nawic

Breaking the Concrete Ceiling

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 04:18:20 GMT

Breaking the Concrete Ceiling Webinar Recap

Breaking the Concrete Ceiling — and the conversation continues.

Last night, NAWIC brought together women from across the construction sector for our Breaking the Concrete Ceiling webinar, a powerful discussion about resilience, leadership, and the realities of building a career in our sector.

Facilitated by Jehan Casinader , the conversation featured inspiring insights from Chantelle Ngaia, Bex Chapman , and Colleen Upton - three women who are challenging expectations and leading change across the sector.

The chat was buzzing throughout the evening as attendees shared their reactions:

�� “Such awesome, powerful stories!”
�� “Very powerful messages from everyone.”
�� “Great tips and inspiring stories — fantastic facilitating work Jehan.”
�� “You are all stars — I can’t stop smiling listening to you all.”
�� “Plenty of inspiring stories and practical advice — thank you for your honesty.”

Beyond the inspiration, the discussion also tackled real barriers - from outdated attitudes on worksites, to recruitment practices, to the need for better pathways for young women entering the sector.

As one participant noted:
“The construction sector needs to scream from all its marketing - we are recruiting women.”

This is exactly why these conversations matter.

A huge thank you to our speakers, facilitator, and everyone who joined us and contributed to such an honest and energising discussion.

And this is just the beginning.

NAWIC will be hosting more webinars throughout the year , exploring the issues our membership has told us matter most - from representation and workplace culture to career pathways, pay equity, and leadership.

If you missed this one, stay tuned - there is much more to come.

#WomenInConstructionWeek #NAWIC #WomenInConstruction #BreakingTheConcreteCeiling #Leadership

Celebrating Dedication

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:16:30 GMT

Alison Thirkettle-Tawharu Awarded NAWIC Life Membership

NAWIC is proud to recognise one of our most dedicated and inspiring members, Alison Thirkettle-Tawharu , with Life Membership — the highest honour our organisation can bestow.

Life Membership celebrates exceptional commitment, service, and the embodiment of NAWIC’s values over many years. It acknowledges those who quietly and consistently make a difference — the people who strengthen our community through their example.

Alison has been a devoted NAWIC member since 2015, serving as Wellington Chair and continuously living NAWIC’s values. Always the first to put her hand up, she supports events, school visits, and branch activities with warmth and wholehearted enthusiasm — never seeking recognition, always showing up. Her kindness, leadership, and ability to build meaningful connections have made her a cherished member of our NAWIC whānau.

By awarding Alison Life Membership, we honour not only her outstanding contribution and loyalty, but also the spirit of service and enthusiasm that lies at the heart of NAWIC. Alison truly exemplifies what it means to belong, lead, and inspire.

We Belong - The Power of Presence, Women Paving the Way

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 03:56:32 GMT

Honouring Suffrage Day – We Belong

On Thursday 18 September, more than 400 women and men across Aotearoa New Zealand joined NAWIC and BCITO | Te Pūkenga for panel discussions marking Suffrage Day as part of our We Belong – The Power of Presence: Women Paving the Way campaign.

Across 13 branches, our panellists — from apprentices starting out to leaders at the top of their fields — shared insights on:
• Breaking new ground
• Opening doors and creating opportunities for others
• Leading with legacy, mentorship, and vision

This nationwide event highlighted the importance of representation, connection, and action as we continue to shape a more inclusive construction sector.

A heartfelt thank you to all who attended, shared their experiences, and helped us celebrate Suffrage Day by looking to the future of our industry.

President Elect and National Councillor appointments

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 22:18:05 GMT

Join us in congratulating Kirsty Hopewell and Hera Eruera

The results of NAWIC’s mid-term election were announced during a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Wednesday, 5 March 2025, at 6pm.

We are delighted to welcome our newly elected leaders, who will join the current President, Council Chair, and incumbent Councillors on the National Council.

President Elect – Kirsty Hopewell

It is with great pleasure that we announce Kirsty Hopewell as NAWIC’s new President Elect.

A dedicated NAWIC member for 10 years, Kirsty brings a wealth of industry experience as a Senior Quantity Surveyor. Her leadership as Canterbury Chapter Chair has been instrumental in fostering a supportive and inclusive community for women in construction.

With a strong commitment to mentorship, industry partnerships, and financial sustainability, Kirsty is focused on driving real, practical change that delivers tangible value to our members. Her commercial expertise and passion for advocacy will further strengthen NAWIC’s voice, ensuring more opportunities and support for women at all levels of the construction sector.

Kirsty’s vision, integrity, and ability to inspire others make her an outstanding leader. She will officially step into this role alongside the current President, Council Chair, and National Councillors.

Please read more about Kirsty below.

National Councillor – Hera Eruera

We are thrilled to welcome Hera Eruera as the newest NAWIC National Councillor.

With two years as a NAWIC member and extensive hands-on experience as a Senior Plumber, Gasfitter, and Drainlayer, Hera brings a vital and inspiring perspective to the council. Since January 2024, she has served as an Emerging Leader on the National Council, demonstrating a deep commitment to learning, contributing, and advocating for women in the trades.

Passionate about increasing female representation on the tools, Hera is a dedicated advocate for vocational education, career pathways, and ensuring women in trades feel seen, supported, and empowered. As an active tradeswoman, she provides invaluable insight into the realities of the industry, helping shape initiatives that make a real impact for women across all levels of construction.

Her leadership, drive, and first-hand experience will be a tremendous asset to NAWIC, ensuring that women in trades have a strong voice and a champion for change.

Please read more about Hera below.

Thank you

The NAWIC National Council would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all Nominees and Members who participated in the election. Your engagement helps shape the future of NAWIC and strengthens our collective impact.

Congratulations to our newest recipients in the 2025 New Year Honours List

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 02:23:12 GMT

NAWIC is enormously proud to have two members distinguished in the 2025 New Year Honours.

It is fitting that both Anita Varga and Priyani de Silva-Currie have been Winners of the NAWIC Helen Tippett Award. Anita won the Award in 2021 and Priyani is the current 2024 Winner. The Helen Tippett Award celebrates achievements in advancing and furthering the interests of women in the construction industry. Both of these astonishing women exemplify an extraordinary commitment to achieve this, for other women. They have each been awarded with the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, MNZM.

Anita Varga, MNZM, has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women and the construction industry.

Priyani de Silva-Currie, MNZM, has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to multicultural communities, netball, and civil engineering.

https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2025

Anita Varga, MNZM

NAWIC National Council Chairperson, 2021 Helen Tippett Award Winner, Regional Manager - Fulton Hogan

Anita is an inspirational Leader in the Infrastructure and Construction Industry. This is an acknowledgement of her many years of invaluable contribution to the construction industry through business and empowering women into the industry. Anita is a NAWIC National Councillor and has been the Chair since 2022. Over the years, she has encouraged multiple women to enter the NAWIC Awards and has seen many women become finalists and winners. She was the first female Regional Manager at Fulton Hogan and she is passionate about ensuring women and men are encouraged to reach their career aspirations. It helped that Anita has the knack to recognise leadership qualities in others and promoted them into positions they had not considered.

She believes it is important for women to be brave and speak up to create a more diverse working environment. Anita looks forward to the day that is normal to have more women in the workplace on site or the office. Thanks to Anita’s many years of encouragement and mentorship, it is no longer unusual that a woman operates that digger, leads the sealing crew, or runs the regional business. She supports women to upskill in studies and has implemented policy changes around returning to work from parental leave. Anita assisted in the development of in house leadership programmes and enjoys watching the participants become emerging leaders.

A work colleague shared “Although her strategic vision is fantastic, she has a way with the people on the ground, they gravitate to her. We are now seeing more women come through at all levels of the organisation. She is a beacon for us”.

Priyani de Silva-Currie, MNZM

NAWIC Member, 2024 Helen Tippett Award Winner, Executive Leader, Board Director, Technical Fellow at Beca

Mrs Priyani de Silva-Currie has contributed to Multicultural Councils at local and national levels, holding executive offices including President of the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils and the respective Manawatu and Nelson branches between 2009 and 2017.

As National President, Mrs de Silva-Currie procured and implemented diverse multicultural programmes and supported programmes such as Engineering New Zealand’s Migrant Forum and the Professional Speaking for Migrants course. Priyani mentors rising talent and is involved in the Engineering New Zealand’s Thrive, Trailblazers and Mentors Programme. The combined roles have allowed Priyani to empower, support and encourage women and men at all levels in the industry.

Priyani sees a gap for women, whether that is in her work or in the community, and she takes action. A recent example of this is leading an initiative called Beca Wahine Toa, which aims to foster and develop Wahine leaders at mid to senior levels within the organisation.

She has coached school, club, regional and national talent identification netball teams over 20 years and received various coaching awards. Between 1998 and 2016, she was on the executive and chaired the Nelson Netball Association. She has delivered introductory coaching clinics for Netball New Zealand for many years. She was a founding committee member and fundraising manager of Saxton Field Sports Stadium Society from 2004 to 2014.

Now a past President and Life Member of Āpōpō Infrastructure Asset Management Professionals, she held several offices from 2015, leading a strategic transformation of the organisation and championing development of uniquely New Zealand indigenous based asset management guidance. She is patron of a scholarship for Emerging Asset Management Professionals. She is a Life Member and chaired Carbon and Energy Professionals from 2009 to 2015. Mrs de Silva-Currie has been New Zealand Representative and is currently Vice President of the International Federation of Municipal Engineers.

In winning the NAWIC Helen Tippett 2024 Award one of the judges noted “I think it’s fair to say we all felt in awe of this powerhouse of a woman”.

On behalf of the 1900 NAWIC members, congratulations Anita and Priyani.

Another lifetime member - Congratulations Rebecca Hodges

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:14:47 GMT

Lifetime memberships are awarded to women who have made a significant contribution to advancing the objectives of NAWIC and overall towards the betterment of the construction sector for the women who work in it.

At the recent NAWIC AGM, Rebecca Hodges was awarded a lifetime membership for her service with NAWIC. Her journey started by joining the Canterbury chapter in 2014, then being elected to the role of Chapter Chair in 2017, followed by the bold step up into the role of President-Elect, President, and most recently Immediate Past President.

During her time of service, Rebecca has worked tirelessly on leading our brand evolution, and digital presence, leading NAWIC through some important growth milestones, such as forming the National Council, she has been a generous mentor, encourager, and advocate for NAWICS vision - An equitable construction industry where women fully participate.

" Rebecca has been a highly engaged leader in the construction industry attending and contributing on behalf of NAWIC at industry events, as a guest speaker and on discussion panels.

Within NAWIC she has been a willing traveler to visit NAWIC Chapters around the country, and supported the Waikato, Queenstown, and Wairarapa NAWIC launch events.

Her dedication to NAWIC has seen the organisation thrive with her support of the new Governance policy and NAWIC National Council formation.

She has also been a NAWIC Awards writer and Awards Event Co-presenter, as well as a Judge. This is a time-consuming activity in both the research and writing, PowerPoint and preparing, practising and presenting citations with Stacey Mendonca, for 2022 and 2023.

She is an outstanding role model for our industry." Stacey Mendonça, MNZM,NAWIC Co-Founder, Past President.

“ Rebecca has been so generous with her knowledge as she has handed over the reigns and been available for any questions or guidance, she has been a leader and a mentor for me when I first started in this role. I know she has always been available at the end of an email or phone call and I have huge respect for her. She has been a guardian of the brand and has led NAWIC through the growing stages towards becoming a National Council. Rebecca, thank you so much!” Colleen Upton, NAWIC President.

If you would like to find out more about NAWIC and being involved in any way, please visit our membership page.

Celebrating women pioneering the future in construction.

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:51:21 GMT

What a fantastic event - Celebrating women pioneering the future in construction.

WOW! On the 131st anniversary of Suffrage day, 2024, NAWIC chapters joined forces with BCITO to host a FREE simultaneous event, across all chapter regions in Aotearoa, New Zealand - We Belong - Women Pioneering The Future in Construction.

The event was themed to showcase, just like our suffrage sisters 131 years ago, many women in construction have been pioneers in the industry, advocating for change and carving a path for others to follow, by encouraging and mentoring women starting out as a student or apprentice, supporting those considering a career in the sector, and cheering on the ones who are leading the way.

Each chapter had a BCITO apprentice leader speak about their journey so far, and then added their own local flavor by inviting other speakers to share or form a panel.

There were amazing spot prizes, great food, insightful and inspiring stories, networking and of course connecting women from across all parts of the sector.

With over 600 people registering across all chapters, there was a real appetite for connection, inspiration and hearing more about various career journeys in construction.

A huge congratulations to our newest chapter in Taranaki, who officially launched their chapter at this event.

We would like to thank the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) for their generous event support of the catering, spot prizes, apprentice leaders, speakers, flyers, giveaways and being part of the event in every region, showcasing the great mahi they are doing in this space.

https://bcito.org.nz

If you missed this event but would like to know what your local chapter is up to next please visit our Events page and click on a chapter. This will take you to their Humanitix profile, where you can see upcoming events but also ‘follow’ their profile so you can be notified of new events as soon as they are published.

https://www.nawic.org.nz/

If you are not yet a member, find out more about becoming a member here.

https://www.nawic.org.nz/membership

Follow anyone of our channels

https://linktr.ee/nawic.nz

2024 Excellence Awards - What a night!

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:04:21 GMT

What a fabulous night we had on 19 July 2024, at the beautiful Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.

2024 Awards Finalists! - Photography by Jo Mohi Photography

https://www.jomohi.co.nz

With over 550 in attendance from across the sector and Aotearoa, the energy and vibe was electric, it was lovely to see so much appreciation, celebration and support for the finalists, and the award recipients.

66 finalists were presented with a beautiful taonga at the special pre event.

There were 32 award recipients, which included 12 category winners. Congratulations to you all.

“It was a privilege to host a diverse group of amazing finalists, to share the Award recipient’s achievements, and hear from the category incredible winners, to the captivated audience” . Recalls, Stacey Mendonca, MNZM, Awards Director, Co-presenter and NAWIC Co-founder. She adds “ The Awards recipients were clearly thrilled, and some shed tears of joy and surprise. The audience showed their appreciation, finishing with a standing ovation for the Helen Tippett winner, Priyana de Sliver-Currie, it was unforgettable”.

“I am struggling to put into words how proud I am of the 2024 NAWIC Awards. So much awesomeness in one room! It was a night to remember, not just for award recipients but for all those who attended. As our award winners spoke I could not help but think - " A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman". We certainly saw a lot of them on Friday the 19th of July!” Colleen Upton OMNZ, NAWIC President

Not only was it a spectacular evening full of anticipation to discover and celebrate the Awards recipients, but the audience got to enjoy the impressive Pacific Connection choir and the sensational Anita’s dance academy troupe from Upper Hutt.

Thanks to our awards partner Naylor Love , all our category and support sponsors, NAWIC Awards committee, and chapter volunteers for contributing to the success of this event, we could not do it without you.

Congratulations to all the award recipients and category winners.

Specialist Plant & Machinery Operators Excellence Award

Winner - Willow Rolton
Highly Commended - Lucy Clark

Apprentice Excellence Award

Winner - Maria Contreras Huerta
Highly Commended - Bex Chapman
Special Merit - Daena Stephenson

Student Excellence Award

Winner - Hinearoha McAllister
Winner - Paige Leota
Special Merit - Sariah Hann

Excellence in Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award

Winner - Modi Chen
Highly Commended - Alicia Tomchuk
Special Merit - Camilla Gibbons

Rising Star - Site Award

Winner - Darcy Gallagher
Highly Commended - Hayley Riddle

Rising Star - Office Award

Winner - Emily Newmarch
Highly Commended - Abi Richards

Excellence in Site Operational Management - Site Award

Winner - Cara Daggar
Highly Commended - Steph Kirk
Special Merit - Deanna Lendrum

Excellence in Construction Organisation - Office Award

Winner - Kirsten Bell
Highly Commended - Cheryl Reid
Special Merit - Isabelle Chong

Outstanding Leader of the Year - Site Award

Winner - Amy FitzPatrick
Highly Commended - Amanda Robinson

Outstanding Leader of the Year - Office Award

Winner - Nicola Tagiston
Highly Commended - Charlotte Veikune
Special Merit - Miko Brouwer

Wahine Toa Tradeswoman Award

Winner - Diez Beazley
Highly Commended - Niamh Barraud
Special Merit - Phoebe Coers

Helen Tippett Award

Winner - Priyani de Silva-Currie
Highly Commended - Professor Robyn Phipps
Special Merit - Nicola Wilson

Keep an eye on our awards page for the gallery of photos.

Celebrating three rising stars within the trade industry

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 22:16:29 GMT

After calling for nominations throughout March and receiving over 170 inspiring nominations, we are thrilled to announce, in partnership with our sole National Principal Sponsor, Bunnings Trade, the winners of the 'Bunnings Trade Future Leader Awards for Women in Trade'.

Three incredible winners were selected who have shown an unwavering dedication, ability to inspire and had a positive impact to those working in the industry.

Congratulations to the 2024 Bunnings Trade Future Leaders for Women in Trades

Ngakita Beazley-Ruwhiu (electrician, Northland)
Cristy Watkins (scaffolder, Otago)
Courtney Willan (carpenter, Auckland)

Recently they celebrated at their local Bunnings store and received their prize pack valued at $7,500 featuring a 12-month NAWIC membership and mentorship, $5,000 worth of Bunning products and materials, an AEG product pack valued at $1,998, and

Hard Yakka gift cards worth $400.

We know women face many barriers during the early stages of their trade career, and this collaboration allows us to provide meaningful support and help them thrive and inspire other women to join the industry.

Ngakita Beazley-Ruwhiu

Ngakita Beazley-Ruwhiu is an invaluable asset to her trade and team. Having served

six years with the New Zealand Army, she is a very specialised electrician. In addition

to acting as a mentor for her team, Ngakita has also given her time and expertise back

to her community, supporting local iwi and helping local marae with DIY projects in

the past.

Cristy Watkins

Cristy Watkins stands out as a trailblazer of her industry being one of the only women

in her profession on the job site. Leading by example and collaborating with

colleagues to think critically about problems and innovate, Watkins brings the best

out of her team every day. She also finds time after work to empower young women

in schools and on the sports field.

Courtney Willan

Edgecity Builders third year apprentice, Womenzshed teacher and NAWIC member, Courtney Willan is an up-and-coming leader within the trade sector. She is a passionate volunteer, speaker and champion of diversity. Willan always takes the time out of her day to support other women in overcoming obstacles, both on the job site and within non-profit organisations.

Take a listen to the short interview Courtney did with George FM over the last week below

For more information visit trade.bunnings.co.nz/future-leader-awards

Congratulations to all our finalists 2024

Sun, 26 May 2024 02:06:17 GMT

The 2024 NAWIC Excellence Awards, partnered with Naylor Love are an opportunity to celebrate and showcase some of our talented women working in the construction, building or infrastructure industries.

As you will see from some of the judges comments, all the nominations were amazing, and the sheer number of talented wāhine across the sector made for another challenging judging process. A huge thank you to all those who took the time to nominate themselves or someone else for the 2024 NAWIC Excellence Awards. With a record number of nominations this year, 242, the judges had their work cut out for them to get it down to just 66 finalists!

A massive shout out and thank you to all our incredible judges for being an important part of our annual awards. Here’s what they said about their experience:

“Helping to judge this year was a very humbling experience. The stories we heard from and about women who were absolutely smashing it in their chosen profession, and being role models for others, was very moving.” Zoe

“Each year that I have the honour to be a judge is a privilege. I am equally humbled and inspired by the incredible women we get to talk to and hear about!” Alison

“Judging the NAWIC Awards is an incredibly uplifting experience. Picking a winner in any of the categories is really tough as there are so many amazing nominations.” Graham

“As a first time judge I felt very honored to be able to be involved in judging for the excellence awards. Reading so many wonderful submissions and hearing from the nominees in person and their referee was fantastic.” Sophia

“It is a privilege to speak to the women who have entered our awards. They are just incredible - I cannot describe how uplifting this day is!” Colleen

“In my third year of judging I am seeing more Māori and Pasifika women putting themselves forward for acknowledgement as significant contributors to their sector.” Katherine

“It was a privilege to get a glimpse of these wonderful wāhine in our sector that I did not know prior. My cup was overflowing at the end of the day. I felt immense pride to be part of NAWIC and the goodness this organisation does.” Kelly

“I really did enjoy the experience. Very inspiring, there are some great people out there doing great things in the industry. We are doing the right thing celebrating it in this manner.” Stephen

“It’s been inspiring and uplifting to hear what the incredible nominees are getting up to and what type of machine they were jumping out of to take our call!” Sarah

“What an honour and absolute delight to be judging this category. We all had the best day and are very encouraged to have so many outstanding leaders in the making.” Jennifer

Congratulations to all our finalists

**In no particular order

Helen Tippett Award

Fulton Hogan Bay of Plenty Region
Nicola Wilson
Priyani de Silva-Currie
Professor Robyn Phipps
Rebecca Hembrow

Wahine Toa Tradeswoman Award

Becks Tahere
Diez Beazley
Joy Godding
Niamh Barraud
Phoebe Coers
Shevaun Chettleburgh

Outstanding Leader of the Year - Office based

Charlotte Veikune
Colette McCartney
Miko Brouwer
Nicola Tagiston
Olga Lozova
Rebecca Haines

Outstanding Leader of the Year - Site based

Amanda Robinson
Amy FitzPatrick
Chantelle Ngaia
Lynsey Dyer
Tina Mackay

Excellence in Construction Organisation – Office Award

Cheryl Reid
Isabelle Chong
Kim Wilson
Kirsten Bell
Pagan Raston
Wendy Tane

Excellence in Site Operational Management – Site or Field Award

Alison Craigie
Cara Daggar
Deanna Lendrum
Nadia Whyte
Samantha Riley
Steph Kirk

Rising Star - Office Award

Abi Richards
Annie Ganley
Emily Newmarch
Jordan Taylor
Lani Iva
Leila Finau

Rising Star - Site Award

Darcy Gallagher
Georgia Hayden
Hayley Riddle
Jody Potter
Lisa Yeoman

Excellence in Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award

Alicia Tomchuk
Camilla Gibbons
Charlotte Sarsfield
Modi Chen
Rebecca Brown

Student Excellence Award

Cayla Warner
Hinearoha McAllister
Maria Vaefaga
Paige Leota
Sariah Hann
Sewwandi Nisansala

Apprentice Excellence Award

Bex Chapman
Courtney Willan
Daena Stephenson
Georgia Simeon
Maria Contreras Huerta
Zoë Taylor

Specialist Plant & Machinery Operators Excellence Award

Indi McKay
Lucy Clark
Tanya Claxton
Willow Rolton

We can’t wait to celebrate with you all at our Awards Event, and of course hear who the category winners and award recipients are.

Please join us! Tickets are now on sale, see the link below.

Friday 19 July, 2024
Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

Purchase your awards event tickets here

Awards information on our Awards Page

A new record number of nominations has been reached

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 02:17:15 GMT

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2024.

Now that nominations for our 2024 awards have officially closed, we would like to take a moment to express our gratitude and appreciation for all those who have taken the time to put a nomination in for themselves or someone else. We have reached a new record number with 242 submissions, this number has doubled in the last 3 years and the calibre of nominations remains high. We received great support for the new category for Specialist Plant and Machinery Operators Excellence Award. There is an ever increasing number of women in these roles around the motu and we want to make sure everyone hears about them.

The awards committee is thrilled with the wide range and diversity of skills, and businesses represented by this year's nominees.

Stacey Mendonça , Excellence Awards Director and NAWIC Co- Founder adds, “ We were elated with the way the industry has answered the call to enter a wide range of roles and responsibilities. Equally impressive is the high calibre of nominees received, and we acknowledge it will be a tough job for the judges”.

NAWIC would also like to give a special thanks to all this year's Awards Sponsors. Without your combined support we would not be able to bring this event to the industry in the fashion that is deserved.

Awards partner:

Naylor Love

Category sponsors:

Supporter sponsors:

If your company would like to further support and join us in celebrating our inspiring finalists at the Awards Event in July 2024, as a Awards sponsors, please contact us for more information on:

awards@nawic.org.nz

Important dates:

Judging day: To be confirmed
Finalists notified: Sunday, 26 May 2024
Tickets go on sale after the finalists are announced
Awards Event: Friday, 19 July 2024
Finalist only Pre-event: Friday 19 July 2024 (at the same venue, before awards presentation).
Venue: Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington.

Please keep an eye on our Awards page for updates, or your inbox

Excellence Awards page

We can’t wait to announce the finalists and celebrate with everyone in July 2024.

Ngā Mihi,

NAWIC Awards Team

Lets talk about periods.

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:11:20 GMT

In 2024 this should not be a challenge that women in construction still need to face at any level. Guest post by Willow Rolton.

"In 2024 this should not be a challenge that women in construction still need to face at any level. As an advocate for women in trades, women's health, periods and mental health, I have been sharing some of what I have observed and experienced onsite throughout my 6 years in construction.
I do this in the hopes that the industry will improve and become more inclusive for future generations of anyone who chooses to work in the industry.

A big positive for me going back to commercial from residential was having female only bathrooms and having access to a sanitary bin and a sink with running water and soap, although this is not always the case on all commercial sites, it was still a noticeable difference.

It absolutely blows my mind that the majority of the time when you work residentially you have portaloos on-site that don't come with sanitary bins (or sinks/soap) unless asked for, which generally comes at a cost. The amount of times I've had to shove used sanitary products into my pockets and make a beeline for a bin without others noticing is ridiculous.
Some smaller sites don’t even have a portaloo.

This is something I will not be quiet about anymore as it is a massive issue and it's a basic right to have access to a sanitary bin at your place of work, however for many people who bleed on a monthly basis throughout the country this is still not accessible.

For those who are happy to chuck a used sanitary item in an external bin or down a portaloo that's fine, that's what we do when we have no other option but it shouldn't even be the case to start with. I'm not saying it's not doable without a sanitary bin because time and time again we prove we as women can adapt to situations but I am saying it's not providing an inclusive workplace environment in any sense of the word and to be completely honest it's not okay.

We need to be having more conversations which spark action regarding this, if not to help ourselves then to help future women who are coming through the trades industry. It would be great to see some of the larger construction companies lead by example and show others the way.

I would be happy to connect if you have further thoughts on this topic, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn."

Willow Rolton
Qualified dogman, and crane operator.
Previous Chapter Chair for NAWIC Queenstown Lakes.

Encouragement from some amazing Wāhine toa - 2024 Awards buzz

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 02:58:19 GMT

“Feel the fear and do it anyway” is easier said than done sometimes.

We understand that entering awards is not a comfortable thing to do for many, it pushes us into speaking about our accolades, successes, talents and skills and feels a little (or a lot) like blowing our own trumpet.

As we approach the nominations closing date of the 15th March 2024 for this year's excellence awards, we know there may be women out there in the industry who may be sitting on the fence and wondering if they are good enough to enter the awards, or already thinking they are not perhaps.

In the spirit of providing some additional encouragement, we reached out to some of our amazing finalists and winners from last year to ask them a few questions about what it meant to them to be nominated, become a finalist and what they would say to others to encourage them to put themselves or someone else forward.

Some of that feedback has been shared already through our social channels, but I thought it would be great to have it all in one place, in the hopes that any ‘fence sitters’ may be inspired and encouraged to give a submission a go this year.

One of the key themes throughout the feedback below, is ‘Just do it’ and another is about inspiring others. I think that is one of the things we often forget to remember, is that when we step out of our comfort zone we may just be inspiring others around us to do the same.

Thanks to all those who opted to share and be part of the cheering squad for this years nominees.

To find out more about how to nominate someone or yourself please visit our website, all the information is on there.

https://www.nawic.org.nz/nawic-excellence-awards

* *All feedback is being shared with permission

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“Attending the NAWIC Excellence Awards ceremony as a finalist was one of the highlights of my year. Seeing the breadth and depth of talented women in our sector was very inspiring!”

Rohan Bush, Director Building Sustainability, Innovation and Standards, Construction and Innovation.

2023 Finalist Outstanding Leader of the Year - Office Award

“It was an honour to represent J&R Builders Kaitaia as the only finalist from north of Auckland. Being announced as a finalist came as a shock and as a reminder that I need to believe in myself and my abilities. Please take the time to nominate a hard-working woman you know. That hardworking woman may even be yourself! Accomplishments within our amazing industry need to be celebrated.”

Amy Stowers, Building Apprentice, J&R Builders Kaitaia

2023 Finalist, Apprentice Excellence Award

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What it meant to be nominated for the awards?

“I self nominated as I believe that sometimes you need to take your destiny into your own hands. I entered to show the women in our small area that it is achievable as well as developing my own self belief.”

What it meant to be announced a finalist?

“Wow, this was a shock but such a happy one. I was proud to show my son that women can do anything and all the females in my life that we can do great things even in a male dominated sector.”

What would you say to another wahine wanting to put herself forward or a boss wanting to put someone forward to encourage them to do so?

“Just do it! It’s a great process to go through no matter how far you go. If you are wanting to nominate someone, if you have a wahine that deserves that recognition, please take the time to show her she’s worth it!”

Nat Pouniu, Construction Site Supervisor, G.J Gardner Homes, Wairarapa

2023 Finalist Rising Star - Site Based Award

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What it meant to be nominated for the awards?

“A career highlight to say the least. Just the recognition alone to even be considered for an award was such an incredible feeling.”

What it meant to be announced a finalist?

“I cannot express how much it really gave me that boost of confidence and reassurance that I BELONG in this space and was just completely overwhelmed with happiness.”

What would you say to another wahine wanting to put herself forward or a boss wanting to put someone forward to encourage them to do so?

“DO IT!! YOU deserve to be a part of this. The experience of just even entering or putting someone else forward will be in itself a win for 2024!! And we need to spread the word across New Zealand and further. So without YOU we don’t know what hidden gems are out there. Let’s shine the light together across all the Wāhine in New Zealand that are doing incredible things in the construction industry and celebrate as ONE! This will ensure that those who may not get the recognition they deserve DO NOW!”

Jasmin Lawrence, Site Manager, Fletcher Building.

2023 Highly commended, Rising Star - Site Based Award

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What it meant to be nominated for the awards?

“It meant a huge deal to me that others think I am a valuable contributor to the construction sector, and making a difference to others around me. It's nice to see it from the outside perspective.”

What it meant to be announced a finalist?

“Oh my gosh it was amazing – I felt excited, really honoured and blessed to be among such incredible women all doing their part in what makes women in construction so inclusive. I also felt immensely proud of the hard work I did to warrant being a finalist.”

What would you say to another wahine wanting to put herself forward or a boss wanting to put someone forward to encourage them to do so?

“If you don’t give it a go – you will never know. Trust me – being bashful or hesitant or “I don’t think I've done anything special – just doing my job” will keep your special talents hidden. Just go for it!”

Jennifer Parker, Director She Property Care, GM Licensed Renovations

2023 Special Merit, Helen Tippett Award

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What it meant to be nominated for the awards?

“Being nominated for the awards by my employer, Beca, was fantastic and made me feel valued. I had two amazing referees, one of which was a client, it was heartening to have so much support.”

What it meant to be announced a finalist?

“Being announced as a finalist cemented the feelings of support, recognition, and confidence that I felt by being nominated. Being a finalist for the Rising Star category at an early stage of my career (4 years experience) was a huge encouragement for what is to come for me in the future.”

What would you say to another wahine wanting to put herself forward or a boss wanting to put someone forward to encourage them to do so?

“It was such a worthwhile experience going through the nomination process. Preparing your nomination documents - such as your CV and award submission, you have to consider yourself against the criteria. You will blow yourself away with how awesome you are when you really get to thinking about your contribution to the industry, and find many people willing to support you along the way. If you're on the fence about nominating yourself or a team member, make the time to do it because it is such a rewarding process!”

Holly Scott, Senior Environmental Scientist, Beca.

2023 Finalist in Rising Star - Office Based Award

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What did it mean to be nominated for the awards?

“Initially I felt that it wasn't for me as I had been training towards my qualification a long time and wasn't what I thought was the model student, with my qualification going on hold due to burnout and not being in a space to work on it and do life, I probably thought I was a bit old and had been in the industry too long!”

What did it mean to be announced a finalist?

“This was where it started to feel different and the struggles I had to get to the end of my qualification was not something to be seen as a negative but a strength to be able to continue through what was a very difficult time. It made me feel proud to be able to stand with other amazing women and feel like I belonged there.”

What would you say other wāhine thinking about putting themselves forward or a boss wanting to put someone forward?

“I went to the awards with no expectation of winning but felt that to be with other women putting themselves out there was the gift of being nominated. It's not easy to stand up and say 'hey I'm working hard everyday to be better than I was yesterday and I’m proud of that', but we need to celebrate ourselves when we do the work of showing up and working towards better outcomes daily, that in itself makes us exceptional no matter how hard it is when we do the work. It's also a great way to find your community and celebrate all women. Win or lose, anyone that is nominated should stand proud of working to be the change they want to see in the industry.”

Nicola Ross - Director and Certified Kitchen Designer, Nicola Ross Design

2023 Winner of the Apprentice Excellence Award

If any of this feedback and enthusiasm gave you the inspiration needed to nominate yourself or someone else, make sure you get onto it and read through the process on our website.

https://www.nawic.org.nz/nawic-excellence-awards

Helen Moate - Wellington based Senior Project Manager Wins NZIOB Award

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 18:08:05 GMT

Celebrating success

One of the key ways we drive towards our vision of being the ‘Leading voice for women in construction’ is by shining a light on career journeys, and sharing the wins and success of Women in the sector, in the hopes that others will be encouraged and inspired on their own journeys.

Recently we had another one of our members recognised in the sector.

Today’s celebratory blog is about the outgoing Chapter Chair of the thriving Wellington chapter, Helen Moate.

At the recent NZIOB Awards, Helen won the Consultants category, which was sponsored by NAWIC. Incoming Canterbury Chapter Chair, Kirsty Hopewell, was there to present the award on behalf of NAWIC.

Helen’s full time role is as a Senior Project Manager at The Building Intelligence Group. Her involvement in NAWIC has been many volunteer hours, like all of our chapters, she has contributed so much to the chapter but also to the National operations team, all while juggling a full time career and family.

Find out more about Helen’s career journey here.

The project in focus for this award was, Te Wao Nui, Wellington Children's Hospital, Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington.

The citation reads,

“Helen’s role on this project in Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington was unusual as she co-ordinated all parties and stakeholders to the project. This included donors, government, subject matter experts, contractors, architects and more.

Helen’s referee said she had to walk a fine line between all stakeholders and was effectively “the glue” in the project.

Helen not only took on this role in a very considered manner, but it was also her commitment to the wider construction industry that played an important aspect in his winning this award. Helen is a member of a number of building industry organisations and a mentor to many starting out in their careers.

She also has a very special commitment to mental health and physical disabilities and injected that into this project. During the project she addressed the differing abilities and challenges for those working on the site to make things easier for them.

In total Helen has spent over four years working on this project which was a steep learning curve where she had to deal with many different and often conflicting roles. She is proud of what she achieved in bringing people together.

Helen is very clearly a people person with empathy and humanity at the core of everything she does and exceptional skills in management and leadership.

Helen was always aware of what was going on in people’s lives and worked to make sure they were supported on site and off. The judges said they could see it wasn’t just about bringing people together for the sake of the project but also recognising the individual needs of the team members.”

The photo is of Kirsty Hopewell, incoming chapter chair for the Canterbury Chapter, presenting the award on behalf of NAWIC.

Congratulations Helen!

To read the other winners, nominees and citations please visit NZIOB page here.

26th AGM for NAWIC NZ

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 23:00:17 GMT

On October 18, 2023, NAWIC held its 26th AGM.

On October 18, 2023, NAWIC held its 26th AGM since the very first meeting to form the New Zealand organisation. This was held in Wellington on 29 April 1996.

Now with over 1,700 members (428 members up from last year) across 9 chapters, it is fair to say the organisation has experienced significant growth.

Chapters are now in Auckland, Waikato, Manawatū, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Canterbury, Queenstown Lakes and Otago. To find out how to get involved with your local chapter, contact us here.

This was the year for Rebecca Hodges, outgoing President, to hand over the reins to incoming President, Colleen Upton.

Rebecca presented Colleen with the NAWIC korowai as she stepped into office as the NAWIC President for the 2023-2025 term. Rebecca commented that Colleen has been an inspiration and support over the past year.

“I was excited to hand over the presidential reins (and ceremonial korowai) to the amazing Colleen Upton ONZM. It has been a true honour over the last 2 years to have worked alongside our 91 incredible volunteers and our 3 superstar part time team members, across our 9 chapters serving our now 1700+ members. There have been so many highlights within our incredible community. I’m looking forward to supporting Colleen and the team over the coming year in the immediate past president role.” Rebecca Hodges, NAWIC Immediate Past President.

Colleen has impressive mana in the sector already, apart from being the General Manager and a Director of Hutt Gas and Plumbing where she has led by example as a business owner and employer for over 30 years, she is also a passionate supporter of apprentice training and increasing diversity within the wider industry. Nearly 30 years of experience in governance, has meant she has made significant contributions to the sector, including being the first female board member on the New Zealand Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, as well as currently serving on the Wellington Regional Skills Leadership Group. Colleen will hit the ground running as NAWIC’s next President, with big plans for the organisation, building on the momentum and hard work of previous Presidents.

“ At the recent AGM, I received the enormous privilege of being handed over the Presidency of NAWIC. Having the NAWIC Korowai placed around my shoulders by the outgoing President, Rebecca Hodges was such a moving moment. Rebecca is an absolute powerhouse and just radiates passion for our organisation. She has brought us on an incredible journey and we now have an active National Council/Board ready for the next stage of NAWIC's growth. I am very thankful for all Rebecca’s help in preparing me for this role and for the help she will give me over the next twelve months of her tenure. A BIG thank you to all the NAWIC volunteers around the country for the hard work you do. I look forward to serving you and meeting more of you over the next two years of my Presidency. “Kō ngā tahu ā ō tapuwai inanahi, hei tauira mō āpōpō - the footsteps laid down by our ancestors create the paving stones upon which we stand today." In the Māori world view it is our past that always paves the way for the future. ” Colleen Upton, ONZM, NAWIC President.

The AGM included the announcement of the new National Council members, who were voted in through an electronic voting system, Electionrunner. Members were given the opportunity to put themselves forward for the roles, and then several weeks to cast votes.

There were 11 candidates of a high calibre, 314 votes received. This resulted in two of the Council members voted back in with a newcomer in the mix.

Congratulations to:

Helen Russell and Liz Watson, ( incumbent National Council members); and Amanda Williams.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank the National Councillors and the National Operations Teams for the work they have contributed in this period. I concur with Rebecca; it has been a phenomenal year with the National Council proud to be elected as the Governance Board with oversight to move this amazing organisation forward. We are privileged to be involved in this organisation and provide governance and structure within our core values of Include, Respect, Inspire” Anita Varga, National Council Chair.

Rebecca extended a huge thank you to those who have resigned from various roles this year, for their service and contribution to NAWIC.

Lenie Buis - Auckland Chair
Kate Shaw - Canterbury Chair
Willow Rolton - Queenstown Lakes Chair
Helen Moate - Wellington Chair
Monique Bent - Membership Coordinator
Grace Jack - National Council, Emerging Leader.

If you are a NAWIC member, minutes will be emailed to members once approved. If you have any questions or don’t receive a copy please email secretary@nawic.org.nz .

A huge thank you to Naylor Love for supporting the AGM venues.

We Belong In Construction Event Highlights 2023

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:37:23 GMT

Check out some of the fun the chapters had around the motu.

Last week all the NAWIC chapters got behind the annual 'We belong' event.
The idea behind the event started a few years ago when the chapter chairs and operations team were thinking of ways to bring women together from across the sector, to network, meet new women in construction, share stories, ideas, encouragement and enjoy each others company.
Women are invited to attend, in a 'come as you are' fashion, from the site to the office and everywhere in between.
The event has gone from strength to strength and apart from the shared date, time, shared sponsorship and general purpose for the event, the chapters enjoy putting their own stamp on the evening.

This year all 9 chapters put on the event, with brand new chapter, Manawatū using it as a launch pad. Numbers varied between regions, as some chapters draw from a smaller member area, but by all accounts it was reported to be a fun event, bringing together familiar faces and lots of new comers.
A huge thank you to PlaceMakers and their staff at each venue for helping make these events so successful and fun.
Here are some of the highlights.

"The Queenstown Lakes chapter had a successful, fun filled event at PlaceMakers Queenstown. We started with a short talk about the history of NAWIC, what we do and what we are trying to achieve, followed by a talk from the PlaceMakers team. We had an evening of nibbles, networking and games, with the highlight being a fastest driller relay race. A couple of lucky ladies walked away with some great prizes, including a Ramset drill, Milwaukee chilly bin, ladies tool belt and PlaceMakers gift vouchers. It was great to see so many new faces at the event, and we hope to see them all again soon!"

"In Wellington we had a wonderful site visit around the new PlaceMakers Kaiwharawhara showroom and yard. This was followed by short talks from two of our NAWIC Excellence Awards winners and some industry partners who spoke about their journeys and their place in the construction industry. "

"Fantastic event hosted by PlaceMakers, our sponsors for the evening, fueled by great food and exciting discussion. The networking games really brought out the best in people, and there were NAWIC attendees who specifically came because of this. A lot of people hadn’t been to an event in the past 2-3 years but remembered this being a highlight, and felt encouraged to come back out and meet new faces."

"The Canterbury chapter had a fabulous turnout to our We Belong in Construction event and PlaceMakers put on a delicious spread and great setup for our three incredibly inspiring speakers. With questions ranging from the challenges our speakers had faced throughout their careers, to top tips they'd give fellow women in the industry, each women there was able to take away some individual inspiration. It was a fantastic evening and all those that attended had a blast."

"A great turn out for the Manawatū ‘We belong in construction’ event yesterday, made into an extra special event with the launch of the Manawatū chapter! A huge thank you to everyone who came along to support us, and a massive thank you to PlaceMakers for providing our venue and being incredible co-hosts."

"Thanks all for coming to our We Belong In Construction event held in Masterton on Thurs 5th Oct.

We had some epic and very on brand Makita New Zealand #chakitafrommakita burgers (check out the colour of those buns) and enjoyed a tour of our local Tumu’s. Thanks to PlaceMakers Wairarapa and the Tumu’s team for hosting us and to Kirk from Makita for letting us check out some of your tools."

"The Otago Chapter had a wonderful time at the national we belong event. Kushla Glover was our winner for the fastest cut-nail-screw competition & gets bragging rights for a year. Thank you to all stallholders, & sponsors of prizes.

A special thank you to PlaceMakers for hosting & our Chapter Chair Philippa for working so hard on this event."

"Thanks to all the members and non-members who attended the awesome We belong in construction event hosted at PlaceMakers Mount Maunganui. We have a very competitive scavenger hunt around the store, resulting in an intense tie breaker and some happy winning faces at the end. A massive thank you to all the PlaceMakers staff and all involved for helping make it a great event."

"The Waikato Chapter achieved its biggest turnout yet for the We Belong In Construction event hosted by PlaceMakers. Guest Speakers Liz Watson (Council Member and Past NAWIC Award winner), and Jasmin Lawrence (Project Manager and NAWIC Awards Highly Commended Rising Star 2023) spoke about the Fletcher BUILDhers Project currently underway in Auckland along with the highlights and challenges of being a women in the construction industry, which was both inspiring and motivational. Thanks to PlaceMakers for their fabulous hosting both in venue and catering, and to the current and “future” members of NAWIC who attended. It was great to see such an awesome and supportive crowd."

If you would like to see what events are coming up in your chapter, check out our events page and subscribe to your chapter Humanitix page!

Winning accolades for the greater good

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 18:53:24 GMT

Stacey Mendonça, MNZM, of the National Association of Women in Construction has added to her recognition list for 2023 by winning the Diversity Champion Award at the 2023 Diversity Awards NZ for her work to improve outcomes for women in the construction sector.

If you talk to Stacey, a humble, quiet and consistent leader, she will always tell you it is not about winning for herself, she sees this type of recognition as another way of increasing the visibility of all women in construction for the betterment of the whole sector.

Stacey, along with two other women, established the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) in 1996 after observing that females working in the sector were often isolated and unsupported. Women make up 50% of society yet only comprise 13% of the New Zealand construction industry. NAWIC aims to improve this statistic by promoting and encouraging more women into the industry and to help keep them there.

This isn’t just about women – it’s about our economy and addressing general skills shortages in construction. It’s about getting women of all ethnicities into productive careers that pay well, are rewarding and can help to build our nation – literally.

Today, NAWIC has eight active chapters, more than 1600 members and delivers a prestigious annual excellence in construction awards programme that celebrates women’s contributions and achievements within the industry.

The organisation’s purpose is to encourage women to pursue, establish and sustain successful careers in the construction industry, and Stacey has supported this aim through the many volunteer roles she has held within NAWIC and throughout her work as a senior quantity surveyor.

She uses every chance she gets to speak, lead, influence, and champion Diversity Equity and Inclusion, whether that’s at webinars, at conferences or one-on-one with people and leaders in the sector. Stacey literally, lives and breathes this in her everyday life, it is not a ‘should do’ for her it is part of who she is.

Stacey often organises visits for NAWIC local members to view sites under construction and to learn from the consultants involved in the project. She also arranges smaller sites visits for women to ensure they get to see more construction up close and to connect in a safe social environment.

Currently working on a busy Central Wellington construction project, Stacey regularly walks the site to increase visibility for women. She is frequently asked to speak on behalf of women who otherwise would not have the confidence to raise concerns about the unacceptable behaviour they have experienced. Stacey encourages and mentors both women and men in their construction studies and career paths.

“Stacey is a leading voice, using her influence to increase the inclusion of and respect for women working in construction”, says Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit.

“She works to get alongside people in power, to influence behaviours and she is not afraid to challenge the most senior people in organisations to do better and be better,”

“Stacey is an excellent communicator and quiet collaborator, using stories and anecdotes to make her point and is always willing to share her experiences with those who can improve the experiences of women in construction.”

NAWIC welcomes members from across the sector.

Find out more about NAWIC and how you can get involved here.

Congratulations to all the award recipients at the NAWIC Excellence Awards 2023

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 08:48:54 GMT

The long awaited awards evening took place at the beautiful Te Pae, Christchurch Convention Centre.

With record numbers of entries, the event experienced record numbers of attendance at the celebration. It was a fantastic evening where the support for the finalists was loud and proud.

66 pounamu were blessed and presented to finalists in an exclusive pre awards event and special guest, Miranda Swift, the 2022 Undergraduate Excellence in Construction Award for NAWIC NSW, joined the celebrations to share her inspiring journey.

“ It’s hard to fully convey how proud I am. Proud of our entrants, finalists, winners and recipients (I hope you are all proud of yourselves too!). Proud of our NAWIC team (of mostly all volunteers) who together pulled off an incredible, highly professional and inspirational event. Proud of how far the awards have come over the last 9 years and finally, proud of Stacey Mendonca and myself for being brave and bold by getting up on stage in front of 640 people to co-present. Thank you to all of our sponsors, in particular our partner for the evening Naylor Love and thank you to all our attendees. I hope you were all inspired by our incredible winners and recipients to help make our industry a better place for all. ” Rebecca Hodges - NAWIC President

“ In our 9th year of NAWIC Awards of Excellence in the construction industry, we were privileged to shine the light on a diverse group of stellar Finalists. With a record uptake of 238 entries from the industry, it had been an extremely difficult task for the 46 Judges and moderators to select the winners and other trophy recipients from this amazing group.

Thank you to all entry nominees for accepting the challenge to enter and experience the judging process, it is not easy to do this. To all the nominators, thank you for acknowledging and sharing your outstanding staff for the excellent mahi they do everyday. It was a thrilling evening full of inspiring acceptance speeches, a few surprises and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all the Winners, Highly Commended and Special Merit recipients and Finalists together.

The success of the evening was due to the NAWIC Awards team and supported by NAWIC Chapter committee members from around the motu all willing to work together to encourage other women .” Stacey Mendonça, NAWIC Awards Director.

Congratulations to our Awards recipients:

Helen Tippett Award

Winner - Aurelie Le Gall, Fletcher Living
Highly commended - Chloe Williams, Fulton Hogan
Special merit - Sonia Muir, Naylor Love
Special merit - Jennifer Parker, She Property Care

Tradeswoman of the Year

Winner - Billie McDonnell, South Auckland Plumbing
Winner - Ella Star, Plumberella
Special merit - Alex van Dam, Van Dam Construction

Outstanding leader of the Year - Office

Winner - Aleshia Perry, Link Alliance (WSP)
Highly commended - Gabrielle Tabron, Ka Huanui a Tahuna Alliance (QLDC)
Highly commended - Natasha Possenniskie, Urban Outcomes
Special merit - Jennifer McLean, Waka Kotahi

Outstanding leader of the Year - Site

Winner - Nicky Leman, Fletcher Construction
Highly commended - Clare Miller, Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway Alliance (Goodman Contractors)
Special merit - Betty Mitrova, Downer NZ

Excellence in Construction Administration - Office

Winner - Rowena Massey, PlaceMakers
Highly commended - Barbara MacGregor, MyHome Renovations
Special merit - Marcelle Moore, Naylor Love

Excellence in Construction Administration - Site

Winner - Tui Simon, Fulton Hogan
Highly commended - Jeniffer Lourdsamy, ACCIONA
Special merit - Michelle Goggans, Southbase Construction

Rising Star - Office

Winner - Eliza Cowey, AECOM
Highly commended - Tina Wieczorek, Scaffolding, Access and Rigging NZ
Special merit - Virginia Hogan, McConnell Dowell Constructors

Rising Star - Site

Winner - Bayley Smith, Fletcher Construction
Highly commended - Jasmin Lawrence, Fletcher Living
Special merit - Mary Fatima Atonio, Brian Perry Civil

Student Excellence Award

Winner - Olivia Kieser, Downer NZ
Highly commended - Oriwa Curtis, Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway Alliance

Apprentice Excellence Award

Winner - Nicola Ross, Nicola Ross Design
Highly commended - Hera Eruera, Auckland Plumbers Group
Special merit - Bridget Cassie, Hockly Plumbers

Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Environment

Winner - Kate Perrott, Fulton Hogan
Highly commended - Esmarie Jackson, Ghella Abergeldie Joint Venture
Special merit - Fran Edmunds, Hawkins

Congratulations to you all. We look forward to hearing more about your journeys as you continue to inspire others in the sector to thrive.

Thanks again to our sponsors

Thank you to our main event partner, Naylor Love, for their ongoing support.

Thank you to our category sponsors

Health Safety Wellbeing and Environment

Fulton Hogan

Apprentice Excellence Award

Te Pukenga Work Based Learning T/A BCITO

Student Excellence Award

Mates In Construction

Rising Star - Site

HEB Construction

Rising Star - Office

Resene

Excellence in Construction Administration - Site

Master Builders

Excellence in Construction Administration - Office

Waihanga Ara Rau

Outstanding Leader of The Year - Site

Summerset Retirement Villages

Outstanding Leader of The Year - Office

Fletcher Construction

Tradeswoman of the Year

Marley

Helen Tippett Award

Plumbing World

Thank you to all our Support Sponsors

Next year's awards will be in Wellington, Date and venue to be announced, watch this space!

Thank you to all our incredible Excellence Awards sponsors!

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 23:04:14 GMT

We can't do this without you all.

Our Awards event is an amazing opportunity to showcase, celebrate and reward wāhine in construction from across the sector. Without our sponsors, some coming back year after year, we would not be able to provide such a high profile and quality event.

Our National Council, and awards committee would like to thank all of you for your support of this exciting and important event for the sector.

“We are thrilled with the record number of 66 Finalists and we are excited to shine the light on this year's stellar group of inspiring women in construction. Join us and our generous Industry sponsors to meet and celebrate them all together.”

Stacey Mendonça. NAWIC Co-Founder, Past President and NAWIC Excellence Awards Director

Thank you to our main event partner, Naylor Love , for their ongoing support.

Thank you to our category sponsors

Health Safety Wellbeing and Environment
Fulton Hogan

Apprentice Excellence Award
Te Pukenga Work Based Learning T/A BCITO

Student Excellence Award
Mates In Construction

Rising Star - Site
HEB Construction

Rising Star - Office
Resene

Excellence in Construction Administration - Site
Master Builders

Excellence in Construction Administration - Office
Waihanga Ara Rau

Outstanding Leader of The Year - Site
Summerset Retirement Villages

Outstanding Leader of The Year - Office
Fletcher Construction

Tradeswoman of the Year
Marley

Helen Tippett Award
Plumbing World

Thank you to all our Support Sponsors

Winstone Wallboards

Schindler Lifts

Construction Sector Accord

The Gas Hub

GHD Design

Mico

PlaceMakers

Worksafe

Master Plumbers

Masterlink

Bison Workwear and Footwear

Rinnai

We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone at our awards evening

Friday, July 21, 2023

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, 188 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City

Tickets are selling fast - Purchase your tickets here

Congratulations Stacey Mendonça - Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 20:01:25 GMT

Stacey Mendonça has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for contributions to women in the King's Birthday Honours.

"I don't think I can adequately put into words how enormously proud we are to see Stacey recognised in this capacity. She is so utterly beyond worthy of this honour, Huge congratulations Stacey! " Rebecca Hodges, NAWIC President.

It is difficult to articulate in a few words the immense contribution Stacey has made to the sector, leading by example and weaving her passion into her full time role, means that much of what she does goes unnoticed by many. Her quiet, inclusive and steady leadership style has meant that many other wāhine have felt safe to step out of their comfort zones and collectively become part of the wider NAWIC mission, to raise the voices of women in construction.

To note just a few of her achievements, outside of her full time role as a senior Quantity Surveyor, Stacey founded NAWIC 26 years ago and has been heavily involved ever since, holding several roles including the position of the inaugural President in 1996 and again taking up the role in 2019, also serving as Wellington Chapter Chair and other committee roles. The organisation has grown from one Chapter in Wellington to Chapters in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Queenstown, Wairarapa, and Otago, with more than 1,600 members from across the sector.

She has organised regular events focused on technical and professional development, to inform and upskill women in construction, whilst promoting networking and information sharing. She organised webinars during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep women connected during this challenging time and created Connecting in Construction, a group mentoring programme for the organisation. Stacey has contributed to the NAWIC Annual Excellence Awards since 2016, preparing citations, securing sponsorship, managing budget, coordinating judges and the planning and execution of the awards ceremony, and now holds the Awards Director role. In 2001 Stacey was awarded the NAWIC Lifetime Award by Helen Tippett.

“I was initially shocked and thrilled at the same time – a real mix of emotions. When I had time to think about it, I felt it was a great reflection on how far NAWIC has come since 1996. I am so grateful for the opportunity NAWIC has given me and all the women associated with the organisation. There are now 1600 members and it has been my privilege to meet and work with so many amazing women and men who have championed having women in their teams.” Stacey Mendonça

We know you will join us all on the National Council and Operations Team, in extending a huge congratulations to Stacey, and an even bigger Thank You for your service and passion to make the sector better for all wāhine.

One of her most famous sayings is “To be it, you must first see it” She personally takes this responsibility seriously and is always looking for ways to not just show other women that success in construction is possible, but also encourages and supports other women to do the same.

We also extend a hearty congratulations to all the other amazing Kiwi's doing good things in the world, see the full list of those announced yesterday here.

Ngā mihi,

NAWIC Media on behalf of the NAWIC National Councils and Operations Team

Congratulations to all our incredible finalists

Sun, 21 May 2023 19:49:43 GMT

Tickets are now on sale for our awards ceremony

As you can see from the judges comments, all the nominations were amazing, and the sheer number of talented wāhine across the sector made for a challenging judging day, a huge thank you to all those who took the time to nominate themselves or someone else for the 2023 NAWIC Excellence Awards.

“ The high numbers of entries for the NAWIC Awards this year has proved a positive shift in attitude within Construction.

We were thrilled with the overwhelming response from the industry in our new record of NAWIC Award nominees.

We received 238 entries and we are excited about this group, and the stellar women we will meet through the process. We thank nominees for being Bold in entering and also thank nominators for their work in supporting the nominee to get to this point and beyond ."

Stacey Mendonca - NAWIC Awards Director

Thank you to our 37 Judges and 5 Moderators who all took time out to be part of our judging panel, with the number of nominations this year, it was no small task. It was described as immensely challenging to judge the finalist group with so many talented women entering this year. Some of our judges have sent back short reflections, comments or insights.

Judges comments

Bob Hall - “ I think NAWIC is an influencer in the industry and the job you do supporting women and giving them a professional voice is awesome.”

Linda Kestle “ It is really encouraging to hear and see the amazing roles and impacts women in our industry continue to pursue, be passionate about and excel in.”

Graham Burke “ It is truly enlightening to review the incredible range and consistently high calibre of the nominees, making it incredibly difficult to pick winners in the categories. ”

Brian Reardon “ Personally, I found the process of judging both extremely difficult and incredibly rewarding. The high calibre of candidates made the selection process a real challenge – I wanted them all to win.”

Paul Southey - “ We have amazing wāhine in the construction industry, we are honoured to be able to Tautoko them on their journey.”

Ruth Williams “ It was a pleasure to be part of the panel. I can see how the awards inspire initiative, persistence, excellence and energy when the people we spoke to have all that in spades.”

Liz Watson “ How many superstars do we have in our industry? - A lot!”

Jose David “ Wow, what an experience and privilege it has been to be involved in the judging – and a responsibility. I really hope some of these women enter again as most of them have the potential to win!”

Emma Weir “ It is so reassuring after talking with these positive and passionate women with me being more at the end of my construction journey, they are the future of the industry, and it is going to be in such great hands.”

Congratulations to all our finalists

* In no particular order

Achievement in Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Environment Award

Daniela Santacruz
Esmarie Jackson
Fran Edmunds
Kate Perrott
Rose Coulter
Shannon Wright

Apprentice Excellence Award

Alice Rabbitts
Amy Stowers
Bridget Cassie
Emma de Salis
Hera Eruera
Iona Allinson
Nicola Ross

Student Excellence Award

Mrydhinyi Krishnan
Olivia Kieser
Oriwa Curtis
Gloria Jeong

Rising Star - Site based

Bayley Smith
Jasmin Lawrence
Mary Fatima Atonio
Nat Pouniu
Nerissa Ross
Siobhan Lenehan

Rising Star - Office based

Anna Gibbs
Eliza Cowey
Holly Scott
Lara Georgis
Natasha Mudaliar
Rumana Sayyad
Tina Wieczorek
Virginia Hogan

Excellence in Construction Administration - Site based

Annmaree Kane
Jen Lourdsamy
Michelle Goggans
Rachel Reeder
Tui Simon

Excellence in Construction Administration - Office based

Barbara MacGregor
Karen Manning
Kylie Baker
Marcelle Moore
Rowena Massey
Vicky Henderson

Outstanding Leader of the Year - Site based

Betty Mitrova
Clare Miller
Nicola Leman
Sarah Hall

Outstanding Leader of the Year - Office based

Aleshia Perry
Amanda Batchelor
Clara Sumner
Natasha Possenniskie
Gabrielle Tabron
Jennifer McLean
Liz de Kort
Rohan Bush
Vicki Lees

Tradeswomen of the Year

Alex van Dam
Billie McDonnell
Ella Star
Hannah Broderick
Lucy Clark
Tanya Claxton

Helen Tippett Award

Anna Morris
Aurelie Le Gall
Chloe Williams
Jennifer Parker
Sonia Muir

We can’t wait to celebrate with you all at our Awards Event and of course hear who the category winners and award recipients are.

Friday 21st July, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, 188 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City

Purchase your awards event tickets here

Sexual Harm/Harassment in the Workplace- NAWIC Professional Development Webinar replay

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 04:43:23 GMT

Getting right to the point on this big topic - with guest speaker: Detective Sergeant Jacqui Rodger, facilitated by Jen Tyson

This webinar was well attended and the interaction during the session and feedback afterwards has confirmed that this was highly valuable for all women and men working in construction and those with women in their teams.

It was insightful and informative.

The webinar followed on from our article in Feb 2023

Calling the sector up to better behavior towards women

Everyone came away feeling they had learned something new, or had something clarified.

Detective Sergeant Jacqui shared her experience and knowledge on:

What the difference is between sexual assault and harassment
What you need to know about the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
What constitutes as a sexual offense and violation
The definitions and parameters of consent
Prevention and intervention and what you can do about situations as a victim, a witness or bystander an employee or an employer.

The chat was busy with both open and anonymous questions coming through showing that this is still a very real challenge for many in the industry.

You can watch the video replay here

NOTE:

Please be aware that this webinar has content that some individuals may find triggering or upsetting, there are support agencies shared below for those seeking help on this topic.

More About Detective Sergeant Jacqui Rodger

“I am a Detective Sergeant with the Wellington District Adult Sexual Assault team based at a place called Koru House in Petone. I have been in the Police for 17 years and worked that entire time in the Wellington District. I worked for eight years in uniform on the front line in Te Awakairangi before joining the Criminal Investigation Branch where I worked for the Welling District Crime Squad. I then moved back out to Te Awa Kairangi where I have remained in CIB ever since.

With my current role I am responsible for our relationships with our external agencies that provide support to victims of Sexual Assault. I work very closely with them to ensure that we provide the best possible service to our victims and always look for opportunities to make the process of coming to Police as comfortable as possible. I am also responsible for any Prevention strategies in this space which includes Don’t Guess The Yes. This is a Police led sexual violence prevention campaign which is run predominately within the festive period in the Hospitality Sector. Police along with Hospitality NZ, Wellington City Council, RespectED Aoteroa, Vic and Massey Uni and their students association spread the message of Consent and aim to positively alter people's alcohol consumption attitudes and behaviours relating to consent.”

Useful links and contacts:

if you have been a victim of a sexual assault, or want to know more about Police process for sexual assault complaints please visit the link below:

https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/sexual-assault-and-consent/what-can-i-do-if-i-have-been-sexually-assaulted

Other support services available:

Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation

Wellington & Porirua

24/7 Helpline: 0800 367 4357

support@wellingtonhelp.org.nz

wellingtonhelp.org.nz

Hutt Valley Sexual Abuse Support and Healing

Hutt Valley

24/7 crisis support line: 0800 22 66 94

support@hvsash.org.nz

hvsash.org.nz

Wellington Rape Crisis

Ph: 04 801 8970

9:30am – 4pm

Mon - Fri

Support@wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz

www.wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz

Safe to talk

Nationwide

24/7 Sexual Harm Helpline: 0800 044 334

Text: 4334

Online chat: safetotalk.nz

NAWIC also recommends having a read, if you have not already the Keep It Decent Guidelines headed up by Waihanga Ara Rau and Trade Careers.

Keep It Decent Guidelines, Waihanga Ara Rau

https://www.tradecareers.co/guidelines

Everyone can be part of making our sector a safer place to work for everyone

Jen Tyson

Communication Manager

NAWIC

NAWIC - Calling the sector up to better behavior towards women.

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:50:15 GMT

We all have a part to play in changing the industry.

Recently, mainstream media has highlighted the abuse our outgoing Prime Minister has had to put up with during her time in office. This started in smaller, more subtle ways when she stepped into her position and gradually just got louder as time went on.

When people didn’t like her decisions or views, they attacked her personally, making rude memes, jokes and remarks about her gender, intelligence, and appearance, all at her expense on social media platforms and in conversation.

Other women in high profile positions have come forward to speak about their own experiences as this conversation has opened up.

This behavior has shed more light on a very real, yet very ugly side of our own construction industry.

We acknowledge those already working hard and making a huge difference across the sector and that improvements and steps forward have been made, however we still have a way to go to make construction a safe, inclusive, and inviting sector to work in across the board for anyone, regardless of gender, or background.

It's not news that in some construction environments women have been subjected to this type of gender discrimination, and abuse for years and not just in the higher profile jobs. From the newest apprentice in their first week on the job, through to the seasoned construction worker, women have battled with, put up with, and fought against all kinds of abuse, ridicule, and assault.

Whilst it is not happening in all organisations, it is still happening in far too many.

The sexist comments, ‘jokes’, unwelcome touching, threats and assaults are still happening and it's simply not ok. In fact when we hear of what is still going on out there, and at times witness ourselves, it is pretty disgusting.

Some of the recent examples we have heard of:

● An electrician being told to go home and kill herself to free up a job for a man

● Being told women don't belong in construction - why are you taking jobs from men

● Men "brushing" past women and pelvis thrusting, laughing as they do so

● Women being told to cover up when wearing singlets (the same as their male counterparts) as

they don't want to see their naked arms

● Being called bitches, and worse

The list goes on…

There are many more women, who don’t speak up, or give up on the job or the industry and decide that construction is not for them. In some more extreme cases, women are traumatised, needing counseling, and support, often carrying the scars well into their lives.

Everyone has a right to feel safe, welcome, and valued in construction, when given the right environment women can bring huge value to teams and organisations.

What can we do?

We all have a part to play in changing the industry. We can’t change someone else's behavior but we can change how we participate, and respond to it, and what actions we take as individuals.

If you see or hear this type of behavior, be bold enough to call it out. Bystanders are just as responsible if they remain silent, if it is not ‘safe’ to call it out at the time, then report it or find a safe way to shed light on the situation.
Be an example yourself, don’t participate or share ‘jokes’, laugh at them, or encourage them.
Culture change is everyone's responsibility, yes it has to come from the ‘top’ as well but you literally can change your immediate culture at a team/site/office level by just behaving differently yourself.
Show your support to those in your workplace who are experiencing discrimination or abuse by listening, and encouraging them to speak out about what is happening to them.

NAWIC highly recommends finding tools like this one below from Waihanga Ara Rau, who teamed up with Hanga-Aro-Rau to support women in the trades so that they can thrive in fulfilling and sustainable careers.

The ‘Keep It Decent Guidelines for Safe and Respectful Workplaces' are our first step towards creating real change. These tools provide practical steps for Employers to take to ensure women are safe in the workplace from sexual harassment and bullying. Download the Guidelines by using the link below.

https://www.tradecareers.co/guidelines

Let's work together today to build safer and more respectful workplaces for everyone who chooses to work there.

Kia kaha

NAWIC Leadership

PS: If you are experiencing behavior of this kind and feel you don't know what to do about it, or who to talk to, please feel free to reach out to us, we can confidentially point you in the right direction.

https://www.nawic.org.nz/contact

NAWIC - Supporting the next generation and beyond

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 05:58:37 GMT

NAWIC members who are recent and new parents - Go in the monthly draw to win a $100 Prezzy Card
We would love to hear from you if you work in construction and have recently had a child, or have had children in the last 3 years. We'd love you to share your experiences or just be involved in the evolution of 'NAWIC the next generation' forum for new parents.

( Employers or managers, if you have someone who is a NAWIC member or even one on hold while on maternity leave please pass this survey on to them on their private email address)

Go in the monthly draw to win a $100 prezzy card!
We are wanting to gather stories to share and encourage others, but also information and feedback to help us see how we may best support our parents in NAWIC. This may include in the future things like:

Publishing encouraging stories from those who want to share in the spirit of encouraging others
Forming an online (zoom) networking 'next generation' regular networking catch up for NAWIC members on leave or working around young babies
Advocacy or advise on issues around maternity leave entitlements
Other areas that come up as part of this survey

We realise that networking events and being with work colleagues each day is something many parents miss when on parental leave, so we are wanting to find ways to re connect parents in construction whilst on maternity leave

We would love to hear your story, how you have coped through this new phase in your life and any nuggets you would like to share with others.

Please complete the following short survey and go in the draw to win a $100 Prezzy Card.
** This is an ongoing monthly survey and draw, we will be sending out one Prezzy Card to someone who fills in the survey each month. Only one survey entry is accepted per person.

** Currently this survey is open to NAWIC members only or NAWIC members on maternity leave or recently returned to work after having children (within the last 3 years), your membership may be current or on hold, either is fine. If you are not a NAWIC member or have never been one, we welcome you to check out our membership here

https://www.nawic.org.nz/membership

NAWIC AGM - 2022 - Presidents Report

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 20:52:56 GMT

"We have had a jam-packed year this year, full of highlights. To start off with we are celebrating our 25th year as an organisation. Enormous thank you to Stacey Mendonca and Gina Jones for establishing NAWIC back in 1997. Without you both we would not be here tonight for one. There is no way we as individual would’ve achieved the same level of connection, support and inspiration from one another if there was no NAWIC acting as the conduit. On behalf of the membership, we are enormously grateful.

We also have another milestone, are also celebrating 10 years since NAWIC officially became a national organisation. 2012 saw the establishment of the Auckland and Canterbury chapters joining the original and long-established Wellington Chapter and the establishment of a national council. Happy 10th Birthday to Auckland and Canterbury!

A couple of weeks ago, Judith sent me through the president’s report from the 2012 AGM celebrating the establishment of these chapters. It was great to see how some of the items noted in that report, as future goals, are now not just a reality but a big part of what we do.

Which brings me to the next highlight. Our NAWIC Excellence Awards. It was noted in the 2012 president’s report that there was an aim to set up an awards programme. 10 years on and we have celebrated our biggest awards yet. It still blows my mind that we had 193 entries this year. With 53 finalists who were then narrowed down to special merit and highly commended recipients and winners across the 10 categories. It was an absolute privilege to be able to shine a light on some of the incredible wāhine in our industry. Thank you to all of you who were a part of it, whether you were a winner or recipient, a finalist, a nominator, a judge, a volunteer on the night or part of our event’s team. Thank you. We look forward to doing it all again next year, this time at Te Pae in Christchurch, on Friday July 21st, put that date in your calendars!

Another key highlight was the establishment of a new national council. In what is probably an ongoing theme here but I was also blown away by how much interest we had in the 3 elected roles on this new look council. There were 25 of you all up who put your name forward. This new council came out of a desire to separate operations and governance to better cater to the growing organisation that we are. Thank you to our councillors, if you’re in attendance can you give us a wave as I call your name? Pamela Bell, Anita Varga, Liz Watson, Helen Russell, Colleen Upton, Meta Apu’ula, Stacey Mendonca, Grace Jack and myself. The last 6 months have been a lot about finding our feet as the national council members settle into their roles and our chapter chairs settle into the operations team.

We are now at over 1,200 members and we operate in 5 chapters and two satellites. Again, I’m blown away by this number!

We also celebrated our second ever Heels and Steels event across the country and each chapter has held a range of amazing events and the chairs will touch on some of these shortly. This is despite the first part of the year being heavily impacted once again by covid.

I’m excited about the coming year and more mind blowing stats!"

Thank you to outgoing immediate past president Stacey Mendonca!

"It’s hard to know where to begin with covering off Stacey’s role at NAWIC as in many ways NAWIC is Stacey! As I noted earlier, we simply wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her wanting to connect with other women in the industry back in 1997 when she was new to Wellington.

Stacey has contributed enormously, in virtually every role possible over the last 25 years of NAWIC, most recently as president elect, president and in the last year immediate past president.

Stacey has been a huge inspiration for not just me but I’m sure for all of you in attendance here. She is always willing to lend a hand and impart her knowledge. She is one of the most generous people I know. She totally embodies a mantra we have here of ‘be brave and be bold’ by regularly stepping outside her comfort zone to show all of us that we can too. An example of this is getting up in front of 470 people to present at our NAWIC Excellence Awards earlier this year at Te Papa. I can tell you this was no easy task. Another example is making a live appearance during her presidency, being interviewed by John Campbell on the tv show Breakfast where she flew the flag for women in our industry and did us all proud. She is passionate, loyal and is thankfully not stepping away from NAWIC. Stacey will be continuing, as Awards Director and I’m sure wearing some different hats along the way too.

To finish I have a direct quote from Stacey, although I’m sure she can add to this herself in a second. Stacey states “We have mighty wāhine around the country achieving amazing feats at work and at home, and I am so privileged to be part of their world.”

Thank you, Stacey but I think the real privilege, for all of us, is being a part of your world."

Congratulations to our new President - Elect - Colleen Upton

President Elect Announcement:

"I’m sure Colleen needs little introduction to many of you as she is an absolute powerhouse in our industry. She is general manager and director at Hutt Gas and Plumbing here in Wellington. She has sat on countless boards and committees across the industry, most recently as a member of the Industry Project Steering Committee for Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga Aro Rau and Advisory Committee Member for the Regional Skills Leadership Group. It is through her immense contribution to the plumbing and gasfitting industry and to women that she became an officer of the New Zealand order of Merit in last years New Years honours.
She has been involved in NAWIC for about the same amount of time I have 7 years roughly. In that time she has been on the Wellington Chapter committee, been our national trades representative, national council member and fabulous MC at our recent NAWIC Excellence Awards.
It is incredibly exciting to have Colleen onboard in this role so can you please join me in welcoming Colleen into the president elect role."

A word from Colleen

"I am very humbled but thrilled to be the new President Elect for NAWIC and take time to acknowledge the huge shoes that I am filling from those that have gone before me in regards to Rebecca and Stacey. I am greatly looking forward to this role and the opportunity to help our organisation grow and to act as a cheerleader and advocate for women in construction. My motivation for striving for a gender free stereotypical work place is my 12 year old granddaughter. I want her to grow up in a world where she can be a plumber or the prime minister without considering her gender. The shackles that prevent our wider construction industry from opening the doors widely and with a smile so that women can enter, and thrive need to be busted down. We need to be the warrior women that lead the way on this and that offer support and encouragement to those doing this mahi. I see a future full of promise and challenges and for our organisation to be the ones that lead the way." Colleen Upton

Resignations and thank yous

"We have a few resignations and to pay tribute to these NAWIC team members who have either stood down this year or are standing down at this AGM.

Firstly, thank you to Lynette Oxford , our Bay of Plenty chapter founding chair who is standing down from the chair role at the AGM today.

Digging back through the president inbox I found an email from 2018, back when Jenny Parker was president, where Lynette expressed her enthusiasm in joining with some other keen women in the region to start their own NAWIC satellite chapter. Fast forward to March 2020, through hours of mahi and meetings, and the Bay of Plenty satellite was launched
Clearly the start of covid was a challenging time to launch anything new but the satellite prevailed, with a solid community of women supporting each other being established and sustained in the area. Testament to this is that fact that Bay of Plenty became a standalone chapter at the end of 2020.
None of this would have been possible without Lynette and her tireless enthusiasm and passion. This achievement has been especially impressive as Lynette fought through recovery after a serious accident during her time as chair as well. Your passion and drive is inspiring to us all, thank you Lynette.
Taking over from Lynette is Sarah Wombwell.

Next resignation is Liz Watson, who has stepped down as Waikato Chapter Chair
I’ve told this story a number of times but the first time I met Liz was at the 2019 NAWIC Excellence Awards. At the time I was Canterbury Chapter Chair and us NAWIC helpers were tasked to sit at different tables at the event. By chance, I had the absolute honour of sitting next to Liz, who was a finalist in the tradeswoman of the year category. Now I had helped out with the certificates that year so I already knew that Liz was the category winner. Being able to watch her experience of the awards and of winning was such a privilege to me and she embodied so much of what our organisation is all about.

Fast forward to 2020 and Liz reached out expressing her interest in starting a Waikato satellite chapter. Liz then gathered together a group of interested women in the region. A large group I must say, they were our biggest committee at the time, to establish the Waikato satellite chapter. The satellite launched in July last year and became a standalone chapter at the last AGM. Like Bay of Plenty, Waikato has been able to establish a core group of members in the region and has gone from strength to strength.

I’m pleased to say this is not goodbye to Liz. As noted earlier in my president’s report, Liz has only stepped down from this role as she stepped into a role on our new national council. Thank you for all your work Liz and I’m excited about continuing to work alongside you on the national council!
Melanie Reid has taken over the chair role from Liz Watson.

I also want to thank Steph and Tracey from the Otago satellite chapter for stepping up to cover the chair role over the last couple of months, while Rebecca temporarily stepped away.

I also want to acknowledge Alice and the rest of the Wellington committee in covering the chair role before Helen graciously stepped into that role.

Lastly thank you to all our chapter committee resignations, I realise there are a number of committee members who have stepped down over this year across the chapters and a bunch who have joined us.

Thank you to all of them for all of their time effort and passion to include, respect and inspire the women in our industry."

Many hands make light work, we are always keen to hear from those of you who would like to get involved in any way

Get in touch with your local chapter here or the national operations team, we can point you in the right direction

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2022 - Winners Spotlight -'Ofa Halatanu

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:17:27 GMT

'Ofa Halatanu - Winner of the NAWIC Excellence Award - Rising Star

Citation read out on the night of the awards

“Ofa is a Site Engineer in Piling for Brian Perry Civil, starting onsite as an Engineering Intern supervising a small crew, to Graduate Engineer and now as the Site Engineer having experienced a wide range of piling projects in a complex range of locations on land and in the marine environment.

The Piling trade is not easy with the rotation of early mornings, late nights, and sludge-covered PPE. ‘Ofa consciously chose to be a part of an industry that was not designed for young Tongan women, and she values the differences she can bring to the workplace. She draws on her strong Tongan family upbringing to inspire her to overcome challenges.

As a Bi lingual communicator, she relates well to her work mates and often provides the bridge between office management and site crews. She believes interpersonal skills trump technical skills. Her referee described her as the ‘’shining star of the workplace’’, she has a detailed work ethic and has been promoted due to her expertise.

Ofa has a full on life and she is greatly motivated to help others, and is keen to support other Pasifika within the industry. Since leaving Uni she has mentored Uniprep students, she promotes University education to high school leavers, is involved with South Pacific Indigenous Engineering students as a mentor as she sees a way to retain people in the industry. She has been part of the Fletcher Building Careers and FCC women in Construction events, she is on the committee for the South Pacific Profession Engineering Excellence aiming to support and encourage Maori and Pasifika Professional Engineers, she has hosted and organised a GirlBoss site tour, and she has continued the contact with the students.”

Post awards question: What has winning this award meant to you?

“Winning this award has meant that my parents' sacrifices have all been worth it!”

‘Ofa Halatanu

Keep an eye open for the 2023 dates and information on our website

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2022 - Winners Spotlight - Kat Ricketts

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 04:11:28 GMT

Kat Ricketts - Winner of the NAWIC Excellence Award - Apprentice Category

Citation read out on the night of the awards

“Kat started off in the construction space by buying and renovating houses. After 6 homes in 4 years she decided to kick off a carpentry apprenticeship. Kat is also studying part time towards a Diploma of Construction Management with the Open Polytechnic.

Kat negotiated a 4-day work week as part of her apprenticeship. This impressed the judges and should be an example/inspiration that flexibility can and does exist in our industry. Her referee advised that she is “super proactive in structuring how to progress her apprenticeship” and that “the possibilities are endless for her”.

Kat originally worked in art fundraising and as such brings a unique perspective to construction which the judges, and I’m sure many of you, will appreciate. She describes building as taking perspectives from individual artists (in this case the designers, engineers and tradespeople) to create a masterpiece.

Kat aims to give back to the industry through her Instagram page @wellingtontradielady (go give her a follow). Where she is doing her part to make women in the trades more visible and accessible. It also provides a space for her to encourage other women considering construction as an option and to support others already in the industry. Kat also volunteers for Inspiring the Future where representatives from different industries go into schools to speak with young people about future career opportunities. While this has been limited because of covid Kat hopes to be back inspiring the students of Wellington soon.

Congratulations Kat. "

Post awards question: What has winning this award meant to you?

"Winning the Award meant a lot to me. It felt like a huge amount of recognition for my work, for engaging with my weakness', and raising my limitations.

The award ceremony also provided the backdrop to meet a lot of people in my industry that I otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to cross paths with. So many people approached me on the night of the Awards and introduced themselves. It was a fantastic event and I recommend anyone who wasn't there to try to attend next year. The coverage afterwards has also reached far and wide with so many friends, family and colleagues reaching out to say congratulations."

Kat Ricketts

Keep an eye open for the 2023 dates and information on our website

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2022 - Winners Spotlight - Sali Mann

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 01:33:08 GMT

Sali Mann - Winner of the award - Excellence In Construction Administration - Office Based

Citation read out on the night of the awards

“Sali embodies Health & Safety leadership in her role as Safety, Quality, Training and Environmental Administrator, at Fulton Hogan in Nelson, not just for the site teams as a whole but also in her care of individual staff and their personal wellbeing.

She has impressive longevity with Fulton Hogan, having been with them for 12 years, but has adapted over time, and encourages others to do so, too. She has achieved extraordinarily high Health & Safety compliance rates, especially for subcontractors. Her referee advised that she "raised the H,S&E bar in the industry" - an impact beyond that of her local Nelson office or even the company on a national level.

Locally, Sali has helped roll out the "My Voice" app which is a simple and immediate incident reporting system direct from the site team member’s iPhone or Ipad. Sali gets the information instantly and can follow up on incidents and other events straight away, speeding up Health and Safety response and communication times.

Sali makes huge efforts to put Health and Safety in everyday language for everyone - and the judges noted that "It was clear Sali's very open, unassuming approach was instrumental to getting the level of compliance and respect she has." Her referee noted that "She ends up acting as a counsellor to many staff as she gives them an ear, takes them aside and looks after people. She owns the health and wellbeing of people. She goes above and beyond and has a huge impact on our culture".

Beyond her day to day work, she is involved with tandem cycling alongside a vision impaired cyclist, helps with Helicopter rescue fundraisers, and her referee told us that she even makes soup on Thursday nights to bring into the team, and has instituted "Fruit Fridays" to make sure the Fulton Hogan team feels looked after and valued.

She has also initiated a Mole Mapping programme for the office, which has now rolled out across the business, actively protecting people through getting concerns escalated to specialists.”

Post awards question: What has winning this award meant to you?

“It is an amazing opportunity to have been nominated, let alone win my category. I am very grateful for my Fulton Hogan Whanau – both Dunedin who gave me the opportunity to work with them and now my Nelson Whanau who are nothing but supportive of all the ‘opportunities’ I put out to them on a regular basis. I love my work – 99% of the time and I never not look forward to my work week, wondering what is coming my way next! I am very passionate about getting more of our fabulous Women in Construction nominated for next year!”

Sali Mann

Keep an eye open for the 2023 dates and information on our website

NAWIC Excellence Awards Finalists Celebrated, Winners Announced

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 02:46:32 GMT

NAWIC Excellence Awards Finalists Celebrated, Winners Announced - July 2022

What a fantastic Excellence Awards event we had on Friday 1st July 2022, hosted in Wellington at Te Papa. The weather turned out to be fantastic for a mid-winter event. The event’s major sponsor Naylor Love, 10 other sponsors and 12 gift/product sponsors, plus an army of NAWIC chapter committee volunteers made the event another one to remember.

This year we experienced a record breaking 190 nominations, resulting in 53 finalists across 11 categories. A cohort of 40 judges and moderators undertook the task of carefully going through each nomination, calling references, and interviewing. This resulted in 28 award recipients in total on the night, with 11 category winners. It was exciting to see the diversity represented across the award winners, from culture, background through to generational.

“It was such a privilege to co-present once again with the amazing Stacey Mendonca and to have also shared the stage, this year, with the equally amazing Colleen Upton, who was our MC for the night.

Massive congratulations to the shining stars of the evening; our winners, highly commended recipients, special merit recipients and finalists. You are all wāhine toa!”

Rebecca Hodges - NAWIC President

With the maximum capacity of the venue reached by another sell out response, the buzz was obvious right from the start. With COVID restrictions meaning so many events have been canceled in the last 2 years, people were extra excited to be gathering and celebrating the excellence of women from right across the sector and the country.

Congratulations to our award winners:

Helen Tippett Award

Category winner - Becky Cox, Fulton Hogan
Highly commended - Pam McGarry, Naylor Love

Tradeswoman of the Year

Category winner - Nikita Porthouse, Hutt Gas and Plumbing
Highly commended - Rebecca Smith, Qualified Building Solutions
Special merit - Anna Julian, Total Decorating

Outstanding leader of the Year - Site based:

Category winner - Fiona Jerry, Pipeline and Civil
Highly commended - Monique De Leijer, Fulton Hogan
Special merit - Gazelle Moinfar, Aoraki Construction

Outstanding leader of the Year - Office based:

Category winner - Dr Linda Kestle, UNITEC, School of Building Construction
Highly commended - Jaclyn Pow, Beca
Special merit - Zoe Thompson, AECOM

Rising Star - Office based:

Category winner - Nalini Gounder, Beca
Highly commended - Tayler Hubber-Davis, Beca
Special merit - Rachel Pettigrew, Buchan Group

Rising Star - Site based:

Category winner - 'Ofa-Ki-Mapalei Halatanu, Brian Perry Civil
Highly commended - Fatemeh Ghanbari, HEB Construction
Special merit - Sweta Chand, Dempsey Wood

Excellence in Construction Administration - Office based:

Category winner - Sali Mann, Fulton Hogan
Highly commended - Hollie Atarau, Waiotahi Contractors
Highly commended - Shaheen Mangera, Higgins Contractors

Excellence in Construction Administration Site based:

Category winner - Danielle Matika, Fulton Hogan
Highly commended - Krittima Tamarat, Built Environs

Outstanding Achievement in Design:

Category winner - Clare Dring, Fulton Hogan
Highly commended - Isabella Franks, AECOM

Student Excellence Award:

Category winner - Caitlin Sanford, Massey University
Highly commended - Hayley Ngo, Auckland University

Apprentice Excellence Award:

Category winner - Kat Ricketts, J Grae Building
Highly commended - Teigan Jopson, University of Otago

Congratulations to you all. We are already planning our 2023 Awards for a date, yet to be announced, held in Christchurch next July.

We will be announcing when the photos are ready, thanks to AT Photo, Andrew Turner, and Masa Udagawa, for their hard work capturing some of the most amazing moments.

Finalists transforming New Zealand's construction industry.

Thu, 12 May 2022 23:41:40 GMT

Finalists transforming New Zealand's construction industry.

Women are making their mark in New Zealand’s construction sector with another record year of 190 entries, resulting in 53 finalists in the annual NAWIC Excellence Awards, sponsored by Naylor Love. This reflects the outstanding contribution being made by women across the industry.

The awards, which will be held at The Amokura Gallery, Te Papa, Wellington, on the 1st July 2022, celebrates the achievements of women in construction along with honouring organisations who are actively working to redress the industry’s gender imbalance.

NAWIC Past president and Awards Convenor Stacey Mendonça says:

“During a trying and demanding time for the construction industry, this awards programme has become a positive way to shine a light and acknowledge stellar women within the workplace. We are constantly facing challenges and asking more from the people in the industry, so we wish to thank all nominees for making the time to prepare their submissions for the 2022 NAWIC Awards. The judges commented on the high calibre and wide range of roles women are undertaking as well as balancing many other activities. They were inspired and impressed by the 190 nominees. This has meant an extremely difficult task for the judges and moderators to select the Finalists. All Finalists and nominees should be proud to be part of this year's awards. We are all excited to meet the Finalists at the NAWIC Excellence Awards Event in Wellington on 1 July.”

A huge thank you to our major event sponsor Naylor Love, and all our minor event sponsors, this event is possible because of your support.

The awards have ten categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry.

Congratulations to the finalists in each category:

Helen Tippett Award Finalists

Renee Young
Pam McGarry
Becky Cox

Tradeswoman of the Year Finalists

Rebecca Smith
Nikita Porthouse
Chelsey Froese
Billie McDonnell
Anna Julian

Outstanding leader of the Year Finalists - Site:

Suzanne McCormick
Monique De Leijer
Gazelle Moinfar
Fiona Jerry
Ashleigh Kennedy

Outstanding leader of the Year Finalists - Office:

Zoe Thompson
Tanya Sundnes
Linda Kestle
Olivia Pearson
Jaclyn Pow

Rising Star Finalists - Office:

Rebecca Staples
Rachel Pettigrew
Tayler Hubber-Davis
Nalini Gounder
Cathy Xiong
Ashley Mason

Rising Star Finalists – Site based:

Tyler Watkins
Taylor Ashton
Sweta Chand
'Ofa-Ki-Mapalei Halatanu
Fatemeh Ghanbari
Emmolina May

Excellence in Construction Administration office-based Finalists

Shaheen Mangera
Sali Mann
Rusyl Ryman
Kelly Moore
Hollie Atarau

Excellence in Construction Administration site-based Finalists

Sarah van Asperen
Krittima Tamarat
Jen Dransfield
Danielle Matika

Outstanding Achievement in Design Finalists

Marie Vermes
Lynsey Dyer
Karen Ritchie
Isabella Franks
Clare Dring

Student or Apprentice Excellence Award Finalists

Student

Lily Sanson
Hayley Ngo
Carla Verryt
Caitlin Sanford

Apprentice

Teigan Jopson
Tendy Cooper
Samara Gilson
Katherine Ricketts
Jessica Moverley

A huge congratulations to you all, we look forward to celebrating on the 1st of July with you.

For further information on the 2022 NAWIC Excellence Awards Please visit

NAWIC Excellence Awards Information

Nancy McConnell - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #8

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 07:56:40 GMT

Winner of the highly commended award in the Helen Tippett category

Construction has always been a huge part of my life – it’s in my blood; my Dad, Malcolm McConnell and partner Jim Dowell established McConnell Dowell in 1961. As a young child weekends were often spent with Dad visiting sites and from the age of 12, I worked my school holidays either on reception, reconciling accounts or doing stock takes in the yard. In the late 70s while studying for my Master’s degree I started a newsletter so people across the business could stay connected, and when McConnell Dowell bought Hawkins in 1982, I became responsible for external and internal Communications. I have continued on the journey with Hawkins (now part of the Downer Facilities division), one way or another, ever since.

What are you most passionate about in the industry? or what drives you to be involved?

I love the people and the opportunities that the world of construction offers for so many. They say that outside of health, construction offers more opportunities than any other industry. Too often we reflect on engineering, quantity surveying and the trades but construction can open doors in a multitude of directions including environmental management, health & safety, stakeholder management, communications, commercial and legal – you just need to pick a role. We are also all about teams working together supporting each other’s strengths and embracing diversity at work.

My passion is supporting opportunities for more women, tangata whenua and Pasifika peoples across our projects and helping them find their place in our industry, to become the leaders of the future.

What would you like to see for the future of women in construction?

They say the tipping point for any industry will be when participation of women reaches 30%. While we are gradually moving towards this in certain areas of our industry; my greatest joy will be when women are well represented across our sites, at every level. I also want to see an appropriate level of support to respect and grow diverse inclusion and leadership in action, particularly for Maori and Pasifika wahine.

Words of wisdom or tips for women at the start of or considering a career in construction

Be impeccable in your word, always try your hardest, don’t take things personally and don’t make assumptions. Be curious and respectful.

When I started in construction there were few women, and some tended to act like they wanted to be men, whereas my Dad always encouraged me to be myself. I think that’s really important for women in our industry – aim to be the best at what you do, but always be yourself.

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

I am very blessed to have grandchildren, and having raised two boys, it is extra special that three of my four mokopuna are wahine. Having time with them – creating and playing games, sharing stories, and being part of their early years is such a joy – My mum who is 90 has even been trying to teach them how to swing a long poi!

What has receiving the highly commended honour meant to you?

To be highly recommended for this award has been very humbling. Helen Tippett blazed a trail for women using her talents and skills to make a significant contribution to our industry.

Today, as we all cope with the direct and indirect effects of the global COVID pandemic, never has there been a better time for women in our industry to share their construction journeys with younger school students and their whanau, particularly for those students who do not have the advantage of construction role models in their whanau. We have the wonderful opportunity to speak with secondary school students about the opportunities in our industry, but it needs to happen even earlier – at a primary and intermediate school level. We find so many girls who don’t consider construction because they and their families aren’t aware of the many different pathways and opportunities available. Let’s change that together. Become a role model and join ‘Inspiring the Future Aotearoa’

https://www.inspiringthefuture.org.nz/#/

To read other inspiring stories please visit our news page here

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here

Lisa Duston - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #7

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 18:33:33 GMT

Winner of the special merit award in professional woman of the year category

Hang in there - it can be a man's world but show them what you've got.
Show them that you are on their side and they will warm to you.
Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and what you believe in!
Believe in yourself - you can do it!

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

Catching up with friends and family, red wine and music.

What has winning this award meant to you?

I love that my workplace nominated me in the first place. It was wonderful to be acknowledged by my team for the work that I am doing.

Being selected as a finalist by NAWIC and winning the Special Merit Award on the night was an incredible experience. There are so many outstanding women in construction doing amazing things, so it was a privilege to be picked to receive the award.

To read other inspiring stories please visit our news page here

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here

Evie Wallace - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #6

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 18:29:28 GMT

Winner of the Rising star award - Office based

Talk to people! A range of them too. Graduates, seniors, managers, women & men. And use those people for advice, for help with applying for jobs, for recommendations of tertiary study or apprenticeships.
If you're offered an opportunity to work in a construction related role, go for it. Even if you've never had any experience in that industry before, you might be surprised at how much you like it! And nothing is forever - you can always change if it's not for you.
Don't be afraid to change the scope of your role, to bring your passions into the work that you do, or to push to get involved in specific areas or projects that you are interested in. Work is definitely not just about following your basic role description, and people will often thank you for challenging norms and bringing new ideas into your work!!

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

Getting outside - biking, tramping or running in our incredible backyard!

What has winning this award meant to you?

I feel really privileged to have had the chance to be recognised - and it's meant I have been thinking more lately about the women around me in the construction industry and all the incredible things they are also doing. It has made me want to share and hear more stories of women - both the challenges and the successes that have followed! It's also just been a reminder to me to keep engaging in stuff outside of my "daily job" - working to support younger women to get into engineering & construction, and continuing to bring sustainability into the work in the water industry that I do.

To read other inspiring stories please visit our news page here

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here

Anita Varga - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #5

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 18:22:45 GMT

Winner of the Helen Tippett Award

After our annual excellence awards in May 2021, we asked all of our award winners if they would like to share more of their story, to inspire and encourage others in their own journeys, and to perhaps enter the 2022 awards. A few were keen to do so. One of the ones shared was from;

Anita Varga
Regional Manager
Fulton Hogan

Winner of the Helen Tippett award

We asked Anita to answer a few questions about her journey so far, here are her answers.

What inspired you to get into construction?

I moved back from Australia after my OE and applied for a job with Fulton Hogan as an accountant in Tauranga. I had to drop out of this application as we decided to move to Gisborne. I was asked by the hiring Manager to let them know when I was settled and they created a role in their Gisborne Office as a Systems Administrator which was a step back from my role previously but I was interested in the company and the opportunities it could bring.

What are you most passionate about in the industry? or what drives you to be involved?

I love working in such a diversified business with the many skill sets required in our industry e.g. asphalt, pavement construction, finance, bitumen plants, quarrying, and three waters. Everyday is different, the projects we build are different, the people we deal with are different and there is always a new challenge. I love working with all the people in our business and watching them meet their aspirations whether it be taking on a management role, earning a new qualification or just the satisfaction of a good day's work.

What would you like to see for the future of women in construction?

I would like to see women as the norm! That we don't even have to think it unusual that a woman might be operating that digger, leading that sealing crew, running that regional business. When women decide to start a family I'd like to see opportunities put in place for women to come back into operations where it's not a big deal if they can't be there by 7am. That companies understand that it's their duty to think outside the square and empower our young mothers back into their previous position allowing some wiggle room. Too often young women in construction have to settle for part time administration roles because they cannot be there early enough. Most of all I want women to make sure they don't lose what makes us unique by trying to fit the male norm as our perspective is what creates a diverse environment in harmony with our male counterparts.

Words of wisdom or tips for women at the start of or considering a career in construction

Always be who you are. Don't try to conform to a male version of you. Be brave and speak up. If you are the minority in the room or on a site make sure you have a voice. Find a good mentor whether they be male or female, their wisdom may be what changes your actions, the way you see a situation or encourages you to try something new.

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

Spending time with my girls, long walks with my dogs, eating out with my hubby.

What has winning this award meant to you?

Winning the Helen Tippett Award was a very humbling experience especially hearing about the amazing careers of the runners up. It has made me determined to continue making positive change and lit a new fire in my belly about what more I can be doing to ensure when I retire that my staff reflects the population, in both the field and management.

To read other inspiring stories please visit our news page here

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here

Tevunga Ungounga - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #4

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 03:42:02 GMT

Winner of the Rising star award - Site based

Recently off the back of our annual excellence awards in May 2021, we asked all of our award winners if they would like to share more of their story, to inspire and encourage others in their own journeys. A few were keen to do so. One of the ones shared was from;

Tevunga Ungounga
Leading Hand
Piritahi

Winner of the Rising star award - Site based

We asked Tevunga to answer a few questions about her journey so far, here are her answers.

What inspired you to get into construction?

I wanted to get into a job that required manual handling and I got the opportunity to try out in civil construction, I grabbed the opportunity, gave it a go and have not looked back since.

What are you most passionate about in the industry? or what drives you to be involved?

The fact that I have a voice for those who don't think they have a voice, where I can speak for them when they feel like they can't speak to higher management.

Being able to speak up when I feel like it's not safe and make sure that the guys on the ground know that they have someone who's going to keep them safe.

What would you like to see for the future of women in construction?

To be able to see more women give construction a go because it's not just for males, girls can be just as good as them.
The males may have the strength advantage but girls can be more smart and able to get things done.

Words of wisdom or tips for women at the start of or considering a career in construction

You will never know what you're missing out till you give it a try.
May be hard to start off but can be all worth it at the end !
It's not just a male industry

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

Spend time with my three boys & family as well as just chill and watch Netflix

What has winning this award meant to you?

It has meant a lot to me, to be honest I never thought I would win. Just being a finalist I was really grateful, hearing all the amazing things all the women have accomplished throughout their years of being in construction was a lot.

But actually winning, I'm still shocked, and it has slowly started opening up more opportunities for me to learn and grow to be able to better myself and be able to inspire more women and girls to come and join in this industry.

To read other inspiring stories please visit our news page here

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here

Suzanne Wilkinson - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #3

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 21:01:05 GMT

Highly commended- Helen Tippett award 2021

Suzanne Wilkinson
Professor of Construction Management and Associate Dean (Research)
Massey University
Highly commended- Helen Tippett award

Suzanne won the Highly Commended award in the Helen Tippett category . A small snippet of her story was shared at the awards. We thought it may inspire you to know more about her journey so we asked her for a few words to share.

What inspired you to get into construction?

I was initially inspired by the opportunities to work outside and create better spaces for people to live, work and play. I followed a fairly traditional path - maths and physics at school (with a physics teacher who thought civil engineering would be a good option for me), a Civil Engineering Degree and then after some industry experience (with a Council, a local contractor and British Gas, all in the UK), I deciding to do a PhD in Construction Management (at Oxford Brookes University, where I studied Civil Engineering). I was initially interested in the management of people in the industry, and my research actually focused on the career choices of men and women in civil engineering. This was in the 90s and there were many poor stories of retention and access to construction for minority groups (including women). However, during my PhD I realized there were perennial problems within the industry which were of interest and research might be able to provide some solutions. I did not initially intend to become an academic (I really wanted to build skyscrapers in New York). I fell into academic life as my husband and I travelled to NZ for some travel adventure and whilst here UNITEC offered me a 2 year research contract, to look at how the New Zealand construction industry was changing. This was followed by an opening at the University of Auckland to teach the construction management courses and that was followed by an opening at Massey University, where I am now. I am currently in the School of Built Environment as Director of Postgraduate Studies and Associate Dean (Research) in the College of Sciences responsible for postgraduates in the School and developing and implementing a research strategy across a College of over 350 researchers.

What are you most passionate about in the industry? or what drives you to be involved?

My work involves interacting with students and developing research to improve the construction industry. I really enjoy working on research projects of national and international significance. In the early 2000’s I was invited to work on several national projects which integrated the construction industry processes with disaster recovery. For the last 20 years, this has been my main area of interest. The main themes I work on are how the construction industry can improve long-term disaster recovery outcomes. I have been working, and leading, teams of researchers ever since. For instance, our research on Christchurch recovery helped inform best processes to use; our build back better research has been used all over the world to help communities, governments and agencies recover well from disasters. Our work on resilience is helping towns and cities in New Zealand, and internationally, to understand what they need to do to become resilient from multiple perspectives (such as business resilience, infrastructure resilience, community resilience). My research team is now looking at how we can develop better ways of mitigating climate change and also researching measures for developing better construction industry resilience post-COVID. Much of our work develops tools for use in industry, such as our resilience water infrastructure tool, resilient transport tool and build back better tool.

What would you like to see for the future of women in construction?

I would like to see women in construction reach their full potential, including more women in senior leadership positions and as directors of companies. It would be good to see more women running their own businesses. We have a talented pool of women entering the construction industry and we need to make sure they are looked after and that they develop their industry leadership skills.

Words of wisdom or tips for women at the start of or considering a career in construction

I would say the following to all women aspiring to succeed in the construction industry, not just my former self.

Seek out kind people to work with, they become your lifelong friends.
Ignore those people who can't see how awesome you are.
You are talented and amazing.

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

Hang out with hubby and kids, travel and eat in nice places, watch the sun set, and drink a good glass of wine (or 2)!

What has winning this award meant to you?

The award has been really empowering. I have had loads of really positive comments from colleagues and current and former students. I have had colleagues overseas wishing me well. It was such a great experience and the award has also confirmed that I should support and promote NAWIC, having seen and met the amazing women at the awards dinner.

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here .

Roimata Maihi - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #2

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 20:52:51 GMT

Winner of the Special Merit Award in the Professional Woman of the year - site based

Roimata Maihi
Foreperson
Hawkins
Winner of the Special Merit Award in the Professional Woman of the year - site based

What inspired you to get into construction?

I have been in construction for 22 years now.

I had applied for 32 office jobs and got only one call back, which was Hawkins looking for a Site Receptionist. I hadn’t fully comprehended that the job would be on a construction site.

Mark Katterns, the project manager, interviewed me, which was a very blunt but straight talk conversation, and I got the job!

In 2000 I had my son and resigned from Hawkins to be a full time single mum; however with the support of Hawkins I was encouraged to return to work and over the years Mark has become a firm whanau friend and coach.

I have been supported by Hawkins in completing my Bachelor of Business in Business Economics, Employment Relations and Human Resource Management and my Construction Management papers. I was chosen to be part of the two-year Hawkins Cadetship Programme which gives participants a strong grounding in the diversity of roles and relationships that support our team construction environments.

What are you most passionate about in the industry? or what drives you to be involved?

I like being challenged. I love learning and I value, team. I am a clear communicator and strong planner.

Since being promoted into a Supervisory role, I know what it is like to be the only wahine and vying to be treated equally.

I am passionate about encouraging and inspiring other wahine mā to join the industry so we can start to balance the scales. Construction industry salaries are high compared to many other wahine mā dominated industries.

The construction industry has clear and diverse pathways to excel. Many of our key Hawkins leaders started as apprentices and have built very successful leadership careers. We have more and more women joining us as apprentices, quantity surveyors and in the BIM-technology areas...but not enough!

I also manaaki (give back) having been a foundation member and wahine leader of Ako Whakaruruhau, Hawkins Maori and Pasifika trades training work matching and mentoring programme, through which I currently mentor six wahine across Hawkins subcontracting whanau. Through our parent company Downer I also facilitated the first Te Ara Whanake Wahine Toa (Maori leadership programme for women) and kicking off the second intake at the end of year.

What would you like to see for the future of women in construction?

Leaders in all trades and management roles. Women owning their own business and most important women supporting women in construction.

Words of wisdom or tips for women at the start of or considering a career in construction

Take ownership of your career
Construction will give you skills to build and maintain your own home and build your future
The Construction industry is all about people and it is vast. We build teams that build whanau that stay together forever!

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

I love being with my whanau and friends and enjoying each other’s company either over a cup of tea or wine and celebrating each other’s success from the smallest to the greatest feats!

Unuhia te rito o te harakeke, kei hea te kōmako e kō?
Ui mai ki ahau, “he aha te mea nui o te Ao?”
Māku e kī atu,
He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata!

If you remove the central shoot of the flax bush, where will the bellbird find rest?
If you were to ask me, “What is the most important thing in this world?”
I would reply,
“It is people, it is people, it is people!”

What has winning this award meant to you?

The award I receive is recognition of professionalism on site. The hope is that it may inspire all Māori & Pasifika wahine mā

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here .

Kelly Churchill - NAWIC Excellence Awards Spotlight #1

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 19:38:35 GMT

Winner - Professional woman of the year - office - 2021

Kelly Churchill
Contract Performance Engineer
Fulton Hogan
Winner - Professional woman of the year - office - 2021

Kelly won the Professional Woman Of The Year Award - Office based this year. A small snippet of her story was shared at the awards. We thought it may inspire you to know more about her journey so we asked her a few words to share more about her.

What inspired you to get into construction?

I studied Land Surveying at university and really enjoyed the engineering papers I did. My first job was in a gold mine, and I was impressed by the big gear and progress they made with it, and the comradery of the crews. And whilst I spent the next 12 odd years in consulting, I always wanted to be a contractor.

What are you most passionate about in the industry? or what drives you to be involved?

I am passionate about finding more efficient and sustainable ways of working, and keeping up diversity in our thinking to develop better solutions. Keeping Mums in the industry is important to me, but diversity is not just about women, it's all about utilizing diverse minds too.

What would you like to see for the future of women in construction?

I'd like to see Women staying in the industry after they've had children if that's what they want. How can we ensure they return to work after childbirth, not lose their status / progression they've worked so hard to achieve? This is particularly more difficult for women in site/shift based roles. And how can we ensure they get the balance they need to provide for their families and maintain their careers? We can feel so much guilt if we aren't prioritizing one over the other - how can we create a shift in this thinking? How can we create more support for them in their organizations to get the balance they want?

Words of wisdom or tips for women at the start of or considering a career in construction

Do what YOU want to do - don't let someone tell you what you should be
Speak up - everyone's opinion is important
Everything has a way of working out - don't stress the small stuff, and if an opportunity feels right, take it!

What is your favourite thing to do for fun?

I love playing golf which I've just taken up in the last year, and I love taking my girls out to a cafe for a cuppa and a yummy treat.

What has winning this award meant to you?

The most exciting part for me was showing my two daughters my certificate, and seeing their pride was priceless. Every time my 9 year old daughter watches the video of me receiving the award, she cries happy tears, and that to me means everything. I am very lucky to have a job I love, so getting recognition from my employer and NAWIC is really icing on the cake. I'm really chuffed.

To keep in touch about the awards in 2022 check our awards page here .

NAWIC Waikato is here!

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The official launch of the new satellite Chapter celebrated in a vibrant, full-house event hosted at Classic Builder’s Victoria St Showroom.

The evening mixed fantastic food with inspiring insights from Jade Thomas, New Zealand Women in Roofing Chair and also provided a snap shot into the history of NAWIC courtesy of Lenie Buis, Auckland Chapter Chairperson and Rebecca Hodges, President Elect.

The buzz of this first event a positive signal of the energy the Waikato region will bring to the organisation!

A big shoutout to Waikato Satellite Chapter Chair Liz Watson for her impressive leadership and to the Committee for their hard work and welcoming Waikato hospitality on the night!

Celebrating significant contributions to the construction sector

Wed, 12 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The much-anticipated NAWIC excellence awards, partnered with BCITO , was a stunning success. With a record number of nominations, finalists, and ticket sales, it was a special night of celebration and recognition for women across the construction sector.

We would like to thank all our partners BCITO, and event sponsors Winstone Wallboards , and Resene , for their contribution to the success of this evening, and extend our gratitude to all the families, employers, friends and work colleagues who came along to join in the celebrations on the night.

The stories, citations and speeches were inspiring, and included a special appearance by the Minister of Building and Construction - Minister Poto Williams, who has a strong background in the sector and had some words of wisdom and encouragement for all.

There were so many amazing moments throughout the night, some were captured by our photographer, Rachel Buer, and other snaps shared by others, some moments will be etched in our memories, such as the incredible atmosphere and energy in the room.

We had an exceptional line up of finalists, making it difficult for the judges to choose winners and highly commended awards. We congratulate all our finalists, winners, and award recipients, you have all made incredible contributions to the industry.

The winners:

The finalists:

The winners of each category were:

Student or Apprentice Excellence Award - Chelsea Roper - Queenstown Carpenters
Tradeswoman of the Year - Tegan Williams - Alan Trow Painters
Excellence in Construction Administration - Kim Booker - Brosnan Construction
Outstanding Achievement in Design - Kat Salm - Harrison Grierson
Rising star - Office based - Evie Wallace – BECA and Rochelle Kirby - WSP
Rising star - Site based - Tevunga (Vee) Ungo'unga - Piritahi Alliance
Professional Woman of The Year - Office based - Kelly Churchill - Fulton Hogan
Professional Woman of The Year - Site based - Helen Russell - Brian Perry Civil
Helen Tippett Award - Supreme winner - Anita Varga - Fulton Hogan

The photos from the night are now loaded up on our website. Please credit our photographer when sharing commercially, Rachel Buer.

Connect with Rachel here

View and share the photos here

We will be loading up our winners’ profiles including all the award winners on our website and will announce when this has been completed.
Finally, a huge thank you to our own NAWIC awards committee, chapter chairs, their committee members and helpers for extra help on the night, every single contribution was valuable and appreciated.

Finalists transforming New Zealand's construction industry

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 20:45:16 GMT

Women are making their mark in New Zealand’s construction sector with 50 finalists being selected in the annual NAWIC Excellence Awards, in partnership with BCITO. A record number of nominations reflects the outstanding contribution being made by women across the industry. The awards, which will be held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Auckland, on the 7th of May, acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women in construction along with honouring organisations who are actively working to redress the industry’s gender imbalance.

NAWIC president Stacey Mendonca says:
“We were thrilled by the Industry’s response for the call to nominate their superstars with such gusto and in huge numbers. After a challenging 2020, these award submissions have shone a positive light on our women. The judges were inspired and impressed with the range of careers and roles women are undertaking, as well as balancing many other factors. The high calibre of the nominees has made for a difficult selection process for the Judges to determine the Finalists. We thank all nominees for their entries.”

The awards have seven categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry. The finalists in each category are:

Helen Tippett Award Finalists
Anita Varga - Fulton Hogan
Jenny Maxwell - CS Roofing Canterbury
Kylie Taffard - Women in Trades NZ
Nancy McConnell - Hawkins
Suzanne Wilkinson - Massey University

Tradeswoman of the Year Finalists
Rebecca Banks - Banks Engineering & Crane Hire
Manawa Ngataki - Higgins - Auckland
Tegan Williams - Alan Trow Painters
Willow Rolton - Naylor Love Central Otago
Bonnie Walker - Fulton Hogan

Professional Woman of the Year Finalists - Site:
Orla Gallagher - Higgins Contractors Limited
Roimata Maihi - Hawkins
Sally Hayward - Stantec
Hayley Stockdale - Naylor Love Central Otago
Helen Russell - Brian Perry Civil

Professional Woman of the Year Finalists - Office:
Alice Carmody - Choice Commercial Interiors Ltd
Kate Saunders - Summerset Group Holdings Ltd
Kelly Churchill - Fulton Hogan
Lisa Duston - Master Plumbers Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc
Philippa Green - North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR)

Rising Star Finalists - Office:
Rochelle Kirby - WSP
Samantha Zondag - Studio Pacific Architecture
Tegwen Atkinson - Stantec
Priya Parag - Beca
Belinda Lewis - Downer New Zealand
Evie Wallace - Beca
Kimberley Schofield - Switched On Group

Rising Star Finalists - Site:
Arden Hermans - Fulton Hogan
Beth Selwyn - Ghella Abergeldie JV
Tevaunga (Vee) Ungo'unga - Piritahi Alliance
Hinearoha McAllister - Fulton Hogan
Julia van Eeden - New Zealand Aluminium Smelter Limited
Carlyn Morrison - Lettz Construction
Rangipai Hill-Dobson - Lindesay Construction

Excellence in Construction Administration Finalists:
Sharlene Kaushal Lal - Tauranga City Council
Helen Ryan - Archoffice
Kim Jacqueline Booker - Brosnan Construction
Kylie Wech - Downer NZ Ltd
Liz Hocking - Naylor Love Dunedin Ltd
Patrycja Bonkowska - Beca

Outstanding Achievement in Design Finalists:
Atiqa Rashid - Manktelow Consulting Engineers Limited
Freya Urlich - Fulton Hogan
Holly Macdonald - Ferndale Furniture
Kat Salm - Harrison Grierson
Natasha Angeline Jokhan - Brian Perry Civil
Rachel Mechen - RM Designs

Student or Apprentice Excellence Award Finalists:
Carlyn Morrison - Lettz Construction
Chelsea Roper - Ferguson Builders
Holly Schick - We Construct Ltd
Rangipai Hill-Dobson - Lindesay Construction

A huge congratulations to you all, we look forward to celebrating on the 7th of May with you.

Tickets for the NAWIC Excellence Awards are available from the in link below – (ticket numbers are limited please get in quick to avoid disappointment)

Purchase tickets here

For further information on the 2021 NAWIC Excellence Awards Please visit
2021 NAWIC Excellence Awards

The launch of the trades training campaign by the Government

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 19:52:30 GMT

Naturally, the women of NAWIC and the construction industry were excited by this announcement by the Government!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/123432298/more-women-picking-up-the-tools-government-say...

Most agreed it is a great leap in the right direction but also feel the focus is a bit short sighted. It is not just about making it easier for women to get into trades, what about creating attractive work cultures on work sites, addressing gender bias, and attitudes in some pockets of the industry. Then there are the practical things like enough resource and capacity in the training organisations to take a bigger influx of students, and the school education system being in tune with the whole campaign, at a grass roots level. Here is what some of our council members have to say about their experiences and perspectives, after reading this announcement.

Colleen Upton – GM of Hutt Gas and Plumbing and NAWICS trades representative says there needs to be more groundwork in driving better ‘site culture’.

"Young and older females will be more drawn to apprenticeships and trades if they have a sense of belonging! The culture on sites and in the workplace needs to be welcoming and accommodating. A small thing like having a toilet on site to use without having to ask for a key or check with someone else would be a great start. Anecdotally we have heard stories of women being given buckets to use as a toilet on site, trees painted with a pink stripe on to wee behind, having to ask the office staff on sites for a key each time they want to use a toilet. These are basic human necessities and not ones our male colleagues have to face. We absolutely support and strongly encourage more women to enter construction – be it via an apprenticeship or or cadetship, admin or professionally based. But we need to get the groundwork done right – so they can feel that they belong there just as much as their male colleagues. Imagine turning up to work at an office job and being given a bucket and no privacy for your toileting. Makes you think, right?"

There is also a bottle neck at the trade training intake end, with so much being poured into attract more into the trades, little has been poured in to balance out the capacity of the training institutions to cope with the influx.

It will take more than a money pot poured unevenly in from the top to bring about sustainable change.

Sarah Toase – EO of Crane Association of New Zealand Inc – NAWIC Wellington Chapter Chair, comments of the visibility of construction as a valid career option for young women.

“To get more women into the construction industry, women need to be presented with trades as a viable career option. We need to see more women working in the wide variety of roles that make up this exciting industry. Companies then need to ensure their culture and structure is set up to support women in historically male dominated fields. Some firms are out there doing this exceptionally well. Unfortunately, this is not the case across the board, however the more we hear about women succeeding in construction, the more other women will follow. We need young girls and women to look at a female plumber, a crane operator, electrician or builder and think “I can do that!”."

Some schools are embracing initiatives by organisations such as the work of inspiring the future www.inspiringthefuture.org.nz/businesses

To make fast and sustainable change across the country, all schools need to shift curriculum, language, and views about career options for young people include, taking the gender barrier off them all.

Stacey Mendonça – Chief estimator at Pacific Doors – President and co-founder of NAWIC, speaks positively about how the construction industry is gearing up to lead COVID recovery and is crying out for more talent, gender irrelevant.

“At NAWIC we believe the borrowed line – “She has to see it to be it’ and we work hard to increase our numbers within the industry. Our women are fantastic role models, but we need to normalise working onsite to encourage more women to our ranks. This is an industry wide issue that collectively we need to work together on improving and changing mindsets of women, employers, and parents.

Construction is crying out for more workers and more women. Tradies need to think about getting their daughters into their businesses, and women who find themselves out of work or displaced, should think about the relative security of the construction industry. Construction is gearing up to lead COVID recovery, and we need all the skills and expertise to make it happen and good employers don’t care what your gender is.”

If you would like support, encouragement, information about getting into the trades, or to join an organisation whose core mission it is to raise the voice of women in the construction industry, check out the work NAWIC does here

AGM 2020

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

NAWIC NZ (National association of women in construction) held their AGM last night, based out of Wellington and thanks to technology, chapters and members zoomed in from all over the country! It was a meeting of celebration, acknowledgement, and excitement, adding the zoom factor made it more accessible to attend.

With record growth in the last year, the organisation has flourished despite the COVID interruptions. A new standalone chapter was announced, Congratulations to the Bay of Plenty. A new satellite chapter, Queenstown lakes, was launched this month with 99 women registered to attend from all around the region.

Stacey Mendonca, current president, and co-founder of NAWIC, proudly presented 4 lifetime membership awards, in recognition of dedication, and service for these amazing women who have all contributed greatly to the growth of NAWIC and the members of the years.

Congratulations to:

Cathy Tracey
Jenny Parker
Donna Howell
Gina Jones

4 New chapter chairs, and a satellite chapter chair were welcomed on to the council, and a new president elect was announced.

Congratulations to Rebecca Hodges, former chair of the Canterbury chapter, for your newly elected position as president elect.

New chapter chairs:

Canterbury – Sonia Barker

With new satellite chapter, Queenstown Lakes, Nell Pooley

Wellington – Sarah Toase
BOP – Lynette Oxford
Auckland – Lenie Buis

Acknowledgements and appreciation were given to the 4 resignations:

Alison Thirkettle-Tawharu as the Wellington Chapter Chair
Rebecca Hodges as the Canterbury Chapter Chair
Sarah Anderson as the Auckland Chapter Chair
Judith Billington as the Membership Coordinator (standing down March 21)

A significant growth in sponsorship has meant the organisation is able to provide members with quality technical learning and networking events, professional and leadership development, and the prestigious annual excellence awards. Stacey made a special mention and appreciation of the individual sponsorship contributions.

NAWIC is enjoying a collaborative relationship with sponsors willing to become more involved and assist on the ground, we are particularly impressed with the highest number of staff who are now members from Naylor Love Construction, nationwide.

NAWIC looks forward to the next year of supporting its members and continuing to be the voice for women in the construction industry into the future.
To find out more about becoming a member, the annual awards or sponsorship please visit our page
https://www.nawic.org.nz/

Congratulations to our lifetime membership awards recipient:

Queenstown Lakes Satellite Chapter Launch

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

QTL is off to a roaring start!

WOW what a launch of the Queenstown Lakes Satellite Chapter last week! A HUGE thank you to all the wonderful sponsors who made this event special and to our fantastic speakers. With 99 guests register to attend, it is fair to say QTL is off to a roaring start!

Thank you to:
Our Host - The Mountain Club .
Photographer - Marina Mathews from Marina Mathews Photography
Food/Platters Providers - Forté
Monetary Sponsors - Hirepool , Resene , Cooks Brothers , Southern Safety and Rubix
Local Business Prize and Donation sponsors - Raeward Fresh , Gibbston Valley Winery , Optimal Health Chiropractic , Remarkables Hampers & The Blue Kanu
Local Business Donations and Contributions to goodie bags - AE projects, Hunter Construction , Brandland , Resene , Kahlo Painting & Fine Finishes , NZ Shred , Forté , Hirepool & The Wax Room .

Speakers:
Rebecca Hodges ( Current president elect NAWIC)
Nell Pooley (Kahlo Painting & Hunter Construction Queenstown)
Sonia Waters (Wild Self)
Q&A Panel - Brooke Thompson (Nind Electrical)
Amy Bayliss (Warren and Mahoney Architecture)
Colette Tinney (Naylor Love)
If you would like to know more about membership please visit our website. https://www.nawic.org.nz/membership

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2021

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

NAWIC Excellence Awards - Supported by BCITO

NAWIC in conjunction with our major event supporters, BCITO , are excited to announce the next NAWIC Excellence awards will be held on May 7th 2021 at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland.

The awards programme aims to celebrate and honour the achievements of women working in construction and affiliated industries, as well as recognising those organisations active in redressing the gender imbalance in the industry.

After a tough year for many, we are pleased to be able to organise this inspiring event for 2021.

The much-awaited awards announcement has triggered many enquiries, as the industry has encouraged their staff to enter and seen the benefits of highlighting their outstanding performance and contribution.

We can all agree this year has been a unique working environment, hearing about exceptional women in our industry is a positive way to celebrate a difficult time.

We are also excited about shifting our application process into the digital world this year, making it even easier for you to nominate yourself and others.

Edited to add: Nominations are now closed

Thank you to those who nominated someone or themselves, we are looking forward to announcing the finalists at the end of March.

Make sure you watch this space for that announcement and then following the public ticket sales

https://www.nawic.org.nz/nawic-excellence-awards

If you have any questions about the awards, please email us on

awards@nawic.org.nz

The NAWIC board

New Queenstown Lakes Satellite Chapter

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

We are excited to have a presence in the Queenstown Lakes region

NAWIC are expanding to the Queenstown Lakes region! After a successful launch in 2019 of our Bay of Plenty chapter we are excited to be expanding to another region where construction is booming.

The Queenstown Lakes region is one we have been looking to have a presence in for a while. The timing is now right with an enthusiastic committee of local women having been formed, lead by Satellite Chapter Chair Nell Pooley.

An official launch for this event will be held Thursday 15th October in Queenstown. We would love to have you join us there. For more information please check out our event page or check out the Eventbrite listing for how to RSVP.

To get in contact with the chapter committee please contact Nell Pooley at chairqtlake@nawic.org.nz

Innovation and connection through NZ lockdown and beyond

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 01:26:50 GMT

Women in construction

As kiwis, we are often known for our innovative and ‘get on with it’ nature. Give us a challenge and we will rise to meet it with new ideas about the way we approach and overcome.

True to form, the crew and members at National Association of Women in Construction NZ (NAWIC) were on the ball.

“The NAWIC board had an important role during the difficult times of lockdown and beyond, we had members lose jobs, contracts cancelled and delayed, and others who worked at frenetic pace throughout. We felt our members needed our contact and support more than ever, and we responded to the new environment.” Stacey Mendonça, President

Changing gear quickly from traditional methods of meeting and operating, they were busier than usual during this time. The chapters and national board collectively offered various ways for members to find value and connection.

From hosting online local chapter education events, social events, professional development events with partner Switched On Learning, a “meet the national board” campaign on social media with some fun facts, through to several NAWIC bulletins to keep everyone connected and informed.

Plus, a brand-new chapter was launched in the Bay Of Plenty, bringing value and connection to the women in that area.

A snap shot of some of the stuff NAWIC members have been up to:
Business owner, Colleen Upton was interviewed on Radio NZ for comments about balancing the requests for plumbers to work while enforcing the alert level restrictions and keeping her staff safe plumber, Nikita Ward was interviewed on Seven Sharp showing the host Jeremy Wells that women can be plumbers
Building Apprentice, Sophie Jack was on TV, Living with the boss, showing children that women could be carpenters
President, Stacey Mendonca, was interviewed by Newshub on - Women in construction: Diversifying the sector in a post-COVID-19 world

Get connected, find support, learn, be inspired, and grow your networks by joining NAWIC.

Meet other women carving their own paths, across a wide range of occupations in the construction industry, through either our face to face meetings and local chapter events or by online live zoom meetings which are held regularly.

Innovation and connection through NZ lockdown and beyond Women in construction NAWIC New Zealand has been active in Wellington since 1996, and has Chapters in Auckland, Wellington, Bay Of Plenty and Canterbury, we are also establishing satellite chapters as interest grows outside those main regions. Our membership base is diverse, and encourages women to pursue, establish and sustain successful careers in the construction industry. Our vision is to be the leading voice for women in this sector.

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2021 - Supported by BCITO are on

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 01:41:18 GMT

NAWIC Excellence Awards 2021 - Supported by BCITO are on NAWIC in conjunction with our major event supporters, BCITO, are excited to announce the next NAWIC Excellence awards will be held on May 7th 2021 at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland.

Unfortunately, due to COVID 19, our annual awards in 2020 were unable to proceed, so the board has been working hard to bring this prestigious event back next year.

More than ever, industry players are expected to support and lead in the fields of health, safety and wellbeing. As a new feature, this year each category will include health, safety and wellbeing as an evaluation criterion.

The awards programme aims to celebrate and honour the achievements of women working in construction and affiliated industries, as well as recognising those organisations active in redressing the gender imbalance in the industry.

We are excited about shifting our application process into the digital world this year, making it even easier for you to nominate yourself and others.

Nominations and entries are now open, click here to read the criteria and terms and conditions, before entering and then here to enter.

We look forward to seeing all the amazing entries coming through and having this inspirational event in 2021

To check out some of the action from the 2019 awards.

What's happening to my NAWIC membership?

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Changes to membership period and cost.

Online events:
In response to the lockdown period which disrupted so many aspects of our lives, the National Council and Regional Chapters have been working hard on ideas to ensure value from your NAWIC membership. Rest assured we are brimming with ideas and are reintroducing our regular meetings as soon as it is practical. The last President's newsletter shared some of our ideas with you, we welcome you to come forward with your own suggestions for upcoming events.

The lockdown also gave us the opportunity to try out alternative methods to meet and host events via Zoom. The success of our NAWIC Connecting online will continue as a monthly event, and each chapter will take turns hosting Webinar events which the national membership will be able to join. This will assist our members who struggle to attend local face to face meetings and increase networking possibilities beyond the chapters.

Membership extension:
In light of the disruption to our scheduled chapter meetings, the National Council is also pleased to announce that your current membership is being extended out to 28 February 2021, meaning your membership will not rollover on 30 June 2020 as in previous years.

While we have been enjoying a steady increase in membership numbers over the last few years, the need to upgrade and automate our processes has become a priority. NAWIC will be introducing a new membership management platform shortly which will provide you with access to your membership details. It will allow you visibility of your membership status and give you the ability to change your personal contact details.

Membership management platform:
Another benefit of the new platform is that your membership will be valid for 12 months from your joining date with an automated renewal reminder sent out one month prior. We are excited about the new platform which will help us keep more accurate and up to date records which in turn will improve our communications with you. We'll share more details with you as we get closer to going "live" which we expect to complete by the end of July.

Subscription fees & GST:
And finally, the National Board has been carefully considering the current subscription fees over the past few months, as it has been several years since the last review. The year on year success of hosting the NAWIC Excellence Awards, has now pushed NAWIC to a higher level of financial compliance. Put simply, NAWIC will have to register for GST in the 2020/21 financial year. Meaning an increase of subscription fees to $90 including GST.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@nawic.org.nz . We are happy to discuss further.

President's Message

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Greetings from my bubble to your bubble. How are you doing in yours?

Hasn’t it been the most unusual Easter break? More like an enforced ‘stay-cation’ and extended family time really. Even though we’re at day 20 now (I think), and we’re into a routine, there’s no denying it’s challenging. In our house, we tune in daily at 1 pm to hear from the fabulous Dr Ashley, but otherwise we try to limit the continuous COVID-19 news barrage. Supermarket visits are not fun anymore, and I didn’t realise how much I would miss the social connection of being at work.

It hasn’t all been challenging though. Daily walks around the suburb are a welcome addition, with the new unofficial Give Way rules to avoid other walkers’ bubbles. We’re enjoying fewer cars on the road, it’s so quiet – you can really hear the tuis - and I read that air pollution is greatly reduced. This Easter I caught up with long overdue calls to family and friends. I attended a live yoga class online, read more books, and connected for Friday night drinks on Zoom. My workmates even do the Dompost 5 minute quiz on Zoom – a great and light way to stay connected.

But overall it’s like someone pressed the pause button on our lives.

In these circumstances its perfectly normal to feel a bit overwhelmed, anxious, isolated and scared at times. You are not alone with these feelings as we are all trying to navigate our new lifestyle. As Jacinda states, we are all in this together, he waka eke noa.

I read a couple of useful pieces of advice that help me to keep perspective. I tell myself:
You’re not working from home. You’re at home, in a crisis, trying to work. I think that’s probably especially valid if you’ve got young kids – don’t try to compensate for lost productivity by working longer hours.
We’re all told to be kind. While that’s fairly obvious, I think it’s really important not to forget to be kind to yourself. There’s nothing more important than your own wellbeing right now.
This lockdown isn’t forever, at some stage life will return to something more familiar – even if it is a new normal.

It is reassuring to hear that the Government is thinking about what’s next. Even more reassuring, they are focused on construction and infrastructure to lead the economic recovery. A group of industry leaders has been invited by the Government to submit costed projects that are ‘shovel-ready’ or likely to be ready to go within six months. These potential projects are in addition to the Government’s $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme and existing Provincial Growth Fund infrastructure investments. This priority work gives our industry a fighting future, and indeed we’ll be at the sharp end of the recovery.

I see this as a massive opportunity, and I am very keen that we don’t miss it. Even though it might not feel like it right now in our bubbles.

However you are feeling, it is OK. Take this time to be kind to yourself, take plenty of breaks and fresh air.

Stay within your bubble and be safe.

President's Message

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Hi All

Well that was interesting. - I doubt any of us have ever experienced a week like it, and to be honest I’m certainly not in a rush to do it again.

At Pacific Doors Limited in Seaview, on Monday we were calmly planning to trial working from home. The next day we seemed to have an acute and foreboding understanding of what level 4 meant, and suddenly we were in facing a State of National Emergency and in complete lockdown.

For the last few days we’ve been trying to figure out how to keep a business and a household running in an entirely foreign environment. I wouldn’t say its been fun, but I would say I’ve learnt a whole lot more about myself and those around me.

Events like this bring out the best and worst in us, but mostly the best. For my family, we had a serious test of logistics bringing my sons home from Christchurch and Auckland, and close family from Cambridge, England made it home in the nick of time. I’m writing this from our garden furniture, which has been brought inside and re-purposed as my office, and I’ve given my parents a crash course in WhatsApp.

I’m sure everyone has their own stories.

I feel lucky to be surrounded by family in my own home, and working for a business that is likely to come out the other side in good shape. I know that not everyone has been this lucky. Our industry ebbs and flows with the economy, and we have some rough times ahead.

Now that the dust is settling, I can see that NAWIC has a role here. Now more than ever we need to make sure people are connected, talking and listening to one another, hearing and telling stories and looking out for each other. It’s what we do at NAWIC, and we can do most of this while we stay in our bubbles.

We’re turning our minds to how we might do this in the new environment. Even after this is over we’ll probably look at meetings and events a little differently. While I’m determined that our fantastic awards event will go ahead this year, we’ll most likely have to make some tweaks to how we do it.

The NAWIC Board will update you soon on ideas and initiatives to keep our NAWIC family together, but please feel free to share any ideas you may have to my email address listed below. But don’t wait … if you need to reach out just do it!

In the meantime, please keep safe in your bubbles, I wish you all the very best.

Kind regards

Stacey Mendonça
NAWIC President

NAWIC Events - COVID-19

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

This weekend has seen an unprecedented reaction to the Coronavirus COVID-19 within New Zealand and around the world. Although the increase of new cases is small, the recent developments have caused the Government to effectively close borders and shut down mass gatherings. NAWIC National would like to clarify what this means for upcoming NAWIC local events.

The Ministry of Health provides useful information and health advice for the public, but the scene changes daily and we must adapt to the changing landscape. We will continue to follow the Ministry of Health’s advice about conducting events and meetings in the coming weeks and months. Many of our members’ employers are also implementing their own precautionary measures, including working from home and travel bans.

We respect that it is up to each Chapter to consider the advice being received, and to make their own decisions. We think it is highly likely that decisions will be made by chapters to cancel some events. We are also mindful that individual members need to make their own decisions about attending events. Where events are going ahead, we want to ensure that each participant takes an active role in considering each other’s welfare when meeting. Please advise members and guests to stay away if they are feeling unwell, or if they have travelled overseas or been in close contact with someone who has been travelled overseas in the past 14 days. For all events please keep attendee details.

For our committee members and volunteers, we reiterate that, as a volunteer organisation, we ask that you consider your employers’ policies in relation to their response to COVID-19. If you do not feel comfortable attending meetings and/or events, NAWIC respects your decision as a volunteer.

There is no easy way to deal with this unprecedented situation. It does seem a shame that many of our events may be disrupted, and just as our newest chapter in the Bay of Plenty starts to gather momentum. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s not really that important, and certainly not important enough to compromise safety. Although no-one knows for sure how long this might last, there’s a sense that eventually it will pass. In the meantime, think of it as a great test of our resilience.

Please continue to monitor the Ministry of Health’s latest advice and guidance to keep our NAWIC members safe if attending our events.

Stacey Mendonça
NAWIC President
17 March 2020

Living with the Boss - episode has aired!

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 19:09:54 GMT

NAWIC made an appearance on TVNZ's latest show

Living with the Boss is a new show on TVNZ 1 that tests how well you know your boss by moving in with them!

The episode featuring NAWIC has now aired!

In season 1, episode 5 we see Sophie, a building apprentice move in with her boss Russell. While they get to know each other better we also hear more about the challenges facing women in the construction industry in New Zealand.

To watch the episode OnDemand click here .

NAWIC Bay of Plenty Launch

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Our latest Satellite Chapter launches in March

We are excited to announce the official opening of our newest Satellite Chapter, Bay of Plenty!

With Tauranga, and the surrounding area, experiencing a construction boom we felt it was high time we expanded into the Bay of Plenty.

Driven by a passionate and motivated group of local women and supported by the Auckland chapter, we are certain our latest satellite will be a huge success.

To celebrate we are holding a launch event on Thursday March 5th at the University of Waikato. To find out more info and to RSVP please click here .

Around the Chapters

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 22:37:58 GMT

Auckland

NAWIC Auckland hosted several fantastic events in conjunction with sponsors.

Highlights included construction site visits to the Sands Retirement Village and Waste Management's new head office. We had an afternoon tea at Makita's office where Makita showed us the new tools they had to offer; and a sell-out presentation on the Living Building Challenge - a new way of thinking about sustainability and design.

We also worked with Girl Guiding New Zealand to put on an event for 40 girls to show them the possibilities of careers in construction, with five interactive stations each focussing on a different career path.

Upcoming events in 2019 include Hands On with Hirepool (14 November) and our annual holiday celebration which will occur in the last week of November (date and details to be announced shortly).

Wellington

Here in Wellington, we have had a great year with a variety of site visits and speaker events, and we have also made some new industry connections which will lead to different events in 2020.

These have led to two events already – the first being with Master Builders Masterton where over 100 women from the Wairarapa construction industry gathered at Solway Park to network, celebrate their achievements and to hear from inspirational speakers.

The second led to our collaboration with NZIOB in July for our keynote speaker event where we were inspired, entertained and challenged by Steph Dhyrberg.

This year we have been on various site visits including a trip to Pacific Door Systems, the Arrow site on Dixon St, Thermosash Factory, Johnsonville Library, Public Trust Building, a back of house visit to WCC and the Paramount to name a few. Hands on Hirepool is an annual favourite and was, as always, a great event! We also had our special screening of ‘Hut’ and went to a movie. We had a fab Christmas function and mid-winter ‘do’ where we were once again spoiled by the generosity of our sponsors.

Many great speakers have shared their knowledge with us and we appreciate their time.

We’ve been part of a quiz evening, a speed dating session for students, and a pre-school reading programme.

I am proud to represent our fabulous Committee and want to thank them for their support over the year as I have been learning my role as Chair. I feel fortunate that all of our current Committee are staying on - thank you Alice Carmody, Charlotte Young, Gaya Paranisamy, Jodie Mickleson, Julie Stewart , Judith Billington, Lianne Cox and Sarah Toase.

Still to come this year:

November 14th: lunch presentatio n THE 'NO DRAMA' APPROACH TO PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS By Julia Anderson

December 5th : our Christmas function (details tbc)

Canterbury

This year has been about building on the structure we had established last year and gaining some more momentum.

We have had a good mix of events, including our ‘Hut’ documentary screening at the beginning of the year; a site visit to The Arts Centre; our big event of the year Wellness in Construction; the ever-popular ‘Hands on with Hirepool;’ our Girl Guiding collaboration as well as a number of other informative events such as our ‘Tips and tricks for drafting NZS3910 contracts’ seminar.

We had Pip Buunk, our NAWIC Excellence Award’s tradeswoman of the year 2018 winner, and Liz

Hodgson a long time regular event attendee and NAWIC supporter, join us on the committee this year which is awesome. Unfortunately though, we have also had two recent resignations from the committee, Sherry Peck and Melanie Russell, both of whom are moving on to exciting new jobs. We wish them the best. I also want to thank our other two dedicated committee members Lisa and Steph for all the work they have put in this year. It is hugely appreciated.

We have a local planning day coming up at the end of November where we will put together a calendar of events for the year including deadlines and email mailout dates, and allocate specific tasks so that we have all roles adequately covered within our small committee. Our aim is to establish further structure going forward to make all of our roles more streamlined, and to achieve the best results going forward for our members.

We will also be capping off this year with our end of year event on Thursday 21st November .

Changing the Guard

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 07:57:47 GMT

Outgoing President's Report

I would like to acknowledge the precious time that the volunteers of NAWIC put in at each region and at Board level to make NAWIC the successful and growing organisation that it is. We work as a team, and I am so proud of all of you for the passion, patience, and perseverance you demonstrate at every level. Thank you very much. Being your president has humbled me and I am in deep admiration of the commitment you make to our cause.

My second year as president has been fantastic with so many highlights, growth and broadening of our horizons. This has not been without growing pains though.

Some of the highlights are:-

· We are still part of the Diversity Agenda programme as change makers. I report back to the Diversity team for statistics on how we are growing and what breakdown of the different sectors of the construction sectors we are representing, specifically in the engineering and architectural sectors.

· We are active members of the Property Council of New Zealand now and receive regular updates from this side of the industry. They connect property professionals throughout the country and they act as a collective industry voice – something that we are pleased to be part of.

· We remain active members of the Construction Industry Council and have a seat on the council. Ruth Williams does a stellar job of representing NAWIC every quarter.

· We have joined a campaign called Mates in Construction, highlighting the need for conversations and resources needed at every level to talk about mental health and suicide rates. NAWIC is a voice in discussions and we take this role seriously, as mental health in construction has been highlighted as the number one industry of stress and pressure. The official launch is 30th October and I will be attending that.

In my 2018 report I said that I would like to see more collaboration with industry bodies, and we have had a very successful year with aligning with other organisations to strengthen our voice as we get closer to normalising women in construction. We cannot do this on our own and with the support and collaborative wide thinking we can achieve our goals.

Our biggest collaboration was with BCITO who partnered with us at our Excellence Awards in September. Working with the teams throughout the ITO was informative, educational and also firmly cemented our vision with many employers and tertiary education providers. We have reached further afield than ever, getting the word out that girls can choose to be whatever they put their heart into, and have the choice to be whatever they want to be, knowing they have training, support and a voice right beside them – all the way through their careers.

We re-branded and launched our new website on International Women’s day this year. This was a much needed fresh face to NAWIC, and we have received very positive feedback. A special thanks to Donna Howell and Rebecca Hodges, along with our design partners Attraction Studio in Christchurch for making this such a success. We are working on new pages and will look to introduce a members’ only page or link in the next few months, all going well.

Our satellite group in Taranaki is on-going, and we have a lot of interest in opening more groups in Bay of Plenty and Hamilton – these will be special projects for me and my new role next year, as I step back into a support role for the incoming president.

We want and need to grow – there is enough evidence in the industry to support that; we just need to make sure we are doing things in the right way and in a manner which is consistent and sustainable.

Our media and communications manager Gina McKenzie resigned from her pro bono role with NAWIC to concentrate on her paid work. As the role is quite large we decided to split it and welcomed Corrie Cook and Ellen Sharland on board to manage the function. They have done very well indeed and launched an Instagram page which is proving to be very effective.

The NAWIC Excellence Awards were our biggest yet, and had a record number of entries from very talented and skilled women across each category. 2020 looks to be even better and we cannot wait to see how many women nominate themselves for an award – just go for it!

We usually attend, and are involved with Auckland Build in November. Last year we were given an opportunity to host a two-day women in construction summit. We had six panel discussions, two workshops, and platforms for feedback. Unfortunately this year the organisers have pulled out of New Zealand and are only operating in Australia. Next year we hope to have a stand or be present at Build NZ

We have been interviewed live on television this year in response to a survey that went out; I was honored to be on a panel discussion at the Kiwibuild Summit, and was a guest speaker on diversity at the same summit in June.

The Chapters have been active all year and held some fantastic events – I wish I could have a magic carpet to speed there to join in everything – I’ve realised I have a serious case of FOMO!

NAWIC was given the unique opportunity to be a part of a documentary called Living with the Boss which will go live to air early 2020, so watch this space!

So, you can see where your leaders have been, raising children, managing households, holding down full time jobs and donating time and energy to every aspect of NAWIC. We do this because it’s the right thing to do – to give back to the industry we love.

We have raised the profile of NAWIC and as such have got several new sponsors on board which we are very proud to be aligned with.

Some changes at Board level also happened this year:-

We welcomed Agustina Esmerado as our National Treasurer, who is just wonderful and has made a big difference to the way we handle finances.

And yes, this is my last AGM as President. I have reflected on my journey and feel that I have given it my all, made some new alliances and friends, watched women grow and lift their chins up, broaden their horizons, and feel so humbled that NAWIC is a part of my life’s journey. I am so excited to pass the baton on to the extremely capable and equally as passionate Stacey Mendonca. Stacey, I have always been in admiration of how you have always held NAWIC close to your heart since you and Gina Jones founded it in 1996, and I know you are just the right leader to take NAWIC to its next level.

Rula Alatia has resigned from the Auckland Chapter Chair role, after seven years of being heavily involved from the inception of the Auckland chapter. Rula has given so much, but feels that it’s time to pass the role onto Sarah Anderson. Sarah is a young, dynamic construction lawyer who is eager to lead, and support others. We give her our full support. I will take up a 2IC role in support of Sarah.

NAWIC welcomes Stacey Mendonca as their new President

Life has turned full circle for new NAWIC president Stacey Mendonca, who was instrumental in establishing NAWIC New Zealand in 1996.

Stacey, who is chief estimator with Pacific Door Systems, says that while NAWIC has achieved its original aim of supporting women and encouraging them to pursue careers in the construction industry, there’s still a long way to go with more women needed in leadership roles, and she is delighted to be involved with the evolution of the non-profit organisation.

“Back in 1996 there were few women in the industry and we have seen an increase in the numbers of women in construction, however this is not reflected at senior levels. Now is the time for more women to step up into leadership roles within the industry.

“I want to assist more women to become role models, mentors and leaders. I also want to see more women putting their hands up to speak at mainstream seminars and conferences, along with increasing the number of women on boards of directors and in governance groups.”

Being based in Wellington will enable Stacey to build on strategic relationships with government agencies and industry partners. She sees this as a vital connection between creating policies which reflect on-the-ground realities for women in the industry.

“It’s important to ensure that the voices of our members are heard and reflected in government policies and initiatives so that these really capture what is happening at the coal face and address real issues that women in construction are facing.

Sharing stories and “walking the talk” are two methods that Stacey believes will encourage young girls to consider a career in construction.

“Our sector isn’t traditionally very good at storytelling, and I think we need to focus on this area by telling inspiring stories at schools, conferences, careers evenings and in publications and media releases.

“I am delighted to see Engineering NZ focusing on better storytelling, and I can’t help but think that their new chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene might be encouraging engineers to talk about their roles with a fresh perspective.

“I also enjoy sharing the story of a past NAWIC Chair who now visits preschools and provides free books which showcase women in construction roles. Girls and boys need to see that there are females playing an active role in the construction industry, because seeing really is believing at a young age.”

Normalising women in construction is a key focus area for Stacey as she believes this will encourage young women to visualise a pathway to a career that they may not have previously considered.

“I want to hear our kids, both girls and boys, saying I’ve followed in my mother’s footsteps into the construction industry. To do that I think we need be better at standing in the sunshine and leading alongside men - not just being happy to play a supporting role.”

Having more women sitting on boards of construction companies could help alleviate some of the current industry issues related to risk, according to Stacey.

“I think we’re at a crossroads around risk. Recently, several contractors have been impacted by taking on risk that was realised.

“Women have a different perspective in this type of discussion and I believe that women have a role around the board table discussing the acceptance of risk. This is useful when considering strategic risk. NAWIC can add its voice to policy and strategic discussions as the industry looks to resolve these kinds of issues.”

Thinking ahead to the future, Stacey hopes to see a safer, kinder construction industry with better collaboration and sharing of risk, alongside increased diversity at a leadership level.

“I believe risk has to be more balanced. The current way, where all risk sits with contractors is not sustainable. I would like to see an industry which reflects the diversity of New Zealand which enables better decisions to be made at board level.”

NAWIC sponsors Site Safe scholarships

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:35:41 GMT

NAWIC is helping women take leadership roles in health and safety with its sponsorship of Site Safe’s Women in Construction scholarships, specifically the NAWIC Women Working in Construction category (any age or ethnicity).

A minimum of two scholarships are presented each year to women who have shown a commitment to safety, shown leadership skills, and contributed to safety in the workplace and the industry.

Scholarship recipients get free training towards the Site Safe Health and Safety in Construction programme which leads to the NZQA-recognised Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice Level 3. (There will probably be some additional costs for any winner, though).

Site Safe also provides scholarship winners a dedicated mentor to provide full support in completing the training and assignment work.

Scholarship winners also get a complimentary ticket to Site Safe’s Evening of Celebrations to receive their graduation certificate and to be part of the awards evening with the rest of the industry.

Applications for 2019 have now closed.

Changing the game in Qatar

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:35:05 GMT

Early in November, the first NAWIC Chapter in Qatar will be officially launched. It’s the first professional association of its kind in the Middle East, and NAWIC NZ has been actively supporting its development.

Billie Teshich is the NAWIC Qatar President and a former NZ member of NAWIC. She believes launching NAWIC in Qatar is a game changer for the Middle East.

“We want to build a community that every woman in our industry, local and expat, can be a part of,” she explains. “This is about bringing professionally-connected, like-minded women from all backgrounds together and helping each and every one of them get the support and development they need to thrive in the industry.”

Living with the Boss

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:31:07 GMT

New observational series, “Living with the Boss” uses a real life social experiment to examine the employer/employee relationship. Each week, an employer will live under the same roof as one of their workers. Outside the comfort of their own homes, these bosses will be exposed to the challenges their employees face, potentially leading to positive workplace changes.

NAWIC has been involved briefly in one programme, supporting women in construction – six strong viewed women joined Jenny Parker, the Immediate Past President of NAWIC, Sophie Jack (Apprentice) and the building company employer Russell Clark of Licenced Renovations to have a bit of a discussion about some of the real issues facing women in construction and on site, especially as a young woman. This will be filmed as a "wrap up" of their week long experiment.

It’s expected that this episode will be aired early in 2020.

NZ Construction Industry Council

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:17:33 GMT

The New Zealand Construction Industry Council (CIC) is a not-for-profit industry association that is the collaborative voice of the built environment industry in New Zealand. It operates at the interface between central and local government and industry, and meets every second month.

CIC members are not-for-profit organisations and peak bodies for professions involved in the delivery of our built environment, whose core purpose is to be the collaborative voice, forum and agent for improvement in this situation. CIC works in the areas of information, networking, advocacy, research and legislation.

The industry attractiveness project developed by CIC is proposed to be an integrated and engaging, web-based platform where young people, their teachers, advisors, family and community members can find information on the broad range of built environment careers - and break down some of the barriers to accessing a career in the construction industry.

“It is very relevant to the growth and support of girls and young women who are part of the future of our industry,” says NAWIC’s representative on this Council Ruth Williams.

Her report from the September meeting includes

· Confirmation that Housing NZ is being merged into newly-established Kainga Ora with its focus on sustainable buildings and sustainable communities, which together with the delivery of warm, dry homes will establish increased wellbeing for all New Zealanders.

· MBIE is creating a searchable, online marketplace which it’s hoped will match opportunities in the government sector with suppliers and/or relevant services.

· NZCIC members believe that SMEs are largely unaware of how the government is communicating with industry, or what it is communicating

· ‘Mates in Construction’ is being supported to confront the levels of stress and uncertainty found in the industry. CHANZ has resources for use on its website for both managers and workers – see https://www.chasnz.org/resources . Although there was mention of age and ethnicity, there was no mention of sex in the discussion of suicide risks and rates.

Is it possible women are not heard because we are not talking about it? Perhaps we could use some of the CHANZ resources to start a meaningful conversation amongst women in construction!

Research shows trades "suffering from a lack of women"

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:01:54 GMT

On October 10, Stacey Mendonca and Jane Cuming attended the official release of the Women in Trades Research documents. The aim of the research is to increase the participation in and success of women in construction and engineering related trades, where they are traditionally under-represented. NAWIC was a key partner in this study, represented by Jenny Parker as President and now Immediate Past President.

This three-year project was jointly commissioned by the Ministry for Women and Ako Aotearoa and developed by five industry training organisations, the Manukau Institute of Technology, industry and educational organisations and secondary schools.

Chair of the Women in Trades consortia, Erica Cumming (BCITO and NAWIC member) says, “Trades can be as financially rewarding as getting a university degree, giving women the opportunity to earn as they learn and offer a fantastic work-life balance. Female school leavers who enter apprenticeships earn $145,000 more than their university counterparts by the age of 30.”

“Women offer a new way of thinking, they’re good problem solvers, and help bring diversity to a male-dominated industry,” agrees BCITO Chief Executive, Warwick Quinn.

“My hope is that this and the final research data based research leaves a legacy that will assist all parties in a post RoVE environment to continue to increase the participation and success of women in trades,” adds Mark Williams, Manager, Insight and Innovation, Education and Stakeholder Engagement, BCITO.

For the full report, see https://ako.ac.nz/knowledge-centre/what-are-the-characteristics-of-an-effective-learning-journey-for-women-entering-trades/

Hear Erica Cumming from BCITO discuss this research with Susie Ferguson on RNZ National, on October 16 https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018717934/trades-suffering-due-to-a-lack-of-women

See a successful example of females in this environment – click through to view NAWIC Awards recipient and BCITO apprentice carpenter Paris Ternent-Jones talking about “Got a Trade? Got it Made!” on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7prlDttMWc

NAWIC Excellence Awards in partnership with BCITO a great success

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 21:49:40 GMT

Greg Durkin of BCITO acknowledged and appreciated the efforts made by every finalist to improve their world. Their own aim is to have 10 percent of apprentices as women now, rising to 30 percent by 2040. He pointed out that this ratio is already at 19 percent in the Painting sector, so these figures are not unreasonable in what is a thriving construction economy.

The summary of finalists and winners across all categories illustrates just how broad a range of industries, experience and skills are represented at these Awards. As guest speaker Nancy McConnell pointed, out people can’t be winners every day but that doesn’t mean our efforts aren’t always worthy and we’re not resilient, ready to try again next time.

Helen Tippett’s eldest daughter Victoria Quade presented NAWIC’s premier award, the Helen Tippett Award and trophy to Colleen Upton, General Manager-Director of Hutt Gas and Plumbing in Lower Hutt. This is the first time a trophy has been awarded, but is something that will continue.

NAWIC is grateful for BCITO’s sponsorship of this event, along with FutureBuild’s and SiteSafe’s contributions

Winners’ profiles

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 06:53:38 GMT

in 2019 NAWIC Excellence Awards, in partnership with BCITO

Helen Tippett Award (the premier award): Colleen Upton , Hutt Gas & Plumbing, Lower Hutt

Colleen is passionate about making the industry a “better place,” and is universally seen as a strong female role model. She encourages and empowers women outside her own area of knowledge by pushing herself and others forward. Colleen had been self-employed with her own accounts and admin business until joining Hutt Gas and Plumbing over 20 years ago, where she grew her role and ultimately became General Manager and Director of the firm.

She has held many governance positions, and became accustomed to being the only female at industry events. When she was approached by her first future female apprentice she knew it was time to do something about the gender balance. The apprentice had previously approached 25 plumbing businesses for an apprenticeship and been rejected every time - something she attributed to her gender. This lady went on to become Hutt Gas and Plumbing’s first female registered plumber and gasfitter. Another female tradesperson had been bullied, had her tools stolen and been disrespected on a daily basis – until taking a role with Colleen.

Highly Commended: Helen Trappitt, Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers, Christchurch

Apprentice of the Year: Corinna Bohny, Contract Construction, Christchurch

Corinna is the first (and so far only) female apprentice or tradeswoman at Contract Construction, a carpentry and concrete main contractor. The judges recognised that Corinna is a huge asset to her company because she gets in early, reads the documents to make sure she is prepared, knows why the detailing is the way it is - and ensures everyone else understands as well. Corinna is a go-getter who takes the initiative to step up in any way she can to better support her team, the company and to develop herself. Corinna’s referees said she has a contagious charisma – she is on a mission to make the best of herself. She is not scared to question, she figures it out and then gets everyone on board. Corinna’s volunteer work includes being an Arthur’s Pass volunteer for the fire brigade and Search and Rescue. Corinna is also currently building her own house.

Highly Commended: Kirsty Currie, Beelee Homes Ltd, Dunedin

Special Merit: Paris Ternent-James, MB Brown, Masterton

Student of the Year (2x): Danielle Platt, Rider Levett Bucknall, Christchurch

Danni had her daughter at 17, and has worked full time since her daughter was four months old. Since 2009 she’s studied constantly, completing a Business Diploma and a variety of other papers before discovering quantity surveying in 2014. In 2017, she was awarded the NZIQS Student award, and now at 31 she is completing her Bachelor of Construction maintaining an A+ average. Danielle is also a small animals volunteer at the Christchurch SPCA every second Sunday. She is justifiably proud of what she has achieved in her life so far, and hopes to become a director one day.

Anna Winskill-Moore, Osborn Brothers Construction, Dunedin

Anna became an apprentice builder after taking voluntary redundancy from the University of Otago when she was 40. Her early love of woodworking led her to gain a pre-trade qualification prior to the apprenticeship, where she ‘cleaned up’ in the student competition – the first woman in the 42 years that it’s been running to win it. Anna isn’t just passionate about learning – she’s also seen as a people person, baking for classmates and organising a team for the relay for life. She has assisted peers with tutoring and conscientiously builds a team environment. Anna has become a role model for those following in her footsteps – she motivates and inspires women to enter the carpentry course.

Highly Commended: Georgia Danford, Johnstone Construction, Auckland

Divya Kataria , AUT, Auckland

Tradeswoman of the Year: Elizsabeth Watson , Stone Roofing Ltd, Hamilton

Liz is clearly driven and both takes and makes her opportunities. Her career progression grew from leaving school at 15, helping her boyfriend roofing in the weekends, being a Waikato netball representative and bagging metal and pumice products in a yard during the day - through to driving infrastructure machinery, laying drains and building roads. She now manages her own roofing business with the same partner, where she runs the roofing jobs as well as working on them. She has completed the metal tile roofing apprenticeship where she was the top roofing trainee, and is now one year into her wall and roof cladding apprenticeship. Liz gives her all and is enthusiastic about helping other women enter the roofing industry.

Highly Commended: Dana Kingsbeer, Vogue Kitchens, Gisborne

Jade Robertson, The Robertsons Ltd, Hanmer Springs

Jodie Wallen, Wallen Concreting, Papakura

Excellence in Construction Administration (2x): Tracy Shaw, Higgins Contractors, Hawke’s Bay

Following in her HR father’s footsteps, Tracy began her human resources career over 20 years ago. She is currently People and Performance Advisor at Higgins Contractors, a portfolio she holds across three branches and for over 500 people. Tracy loves that her role gives her the ability to have a positive impact on people’s lives and to facilitate their professional development. Four years ago Tracy was tasked with developing a programme to support unemployed and directionless youth within the region, and in May 2015 Higgins Hawke’s Bay launched their ‘At Risk Youth’ Initiative. Over 50 percent of the intakes still work with Higgins or are employed within the industry.

Kylie Wech, Downer, Whangarei

Kylie is a contract manager at Downer for the Whangarei District Council South Maintenance Contract, the first female to be appointed as such for any authority contract in Northland. Partly as an example to her daughters, Kylie works full time in a demanding career, raising them as a solo mum and in her words “jumping on any opportunity to extend her brain.” She’s recently completed the Inspiring Leaders Programme level 1, Wahine Toa Leadership and Trainer certificate, and is studying toward a Diploma in Business. In her spare time, she has raised more than $160,000 over five years for local charities. She is inspirational and says that construction is where she fits.

Highly Commended: Gillian Darroch, MetroPerformance Glass, Mt Maunganui

Alison Glover, Lawton Building, Auckland

Outstanding Achievement in Design: Hedda Oosterhoff , T&R Interior Systems, Wellington

Hedda initiated and led the development of Vertibrace, a product that has the potential to have a big impact on the industry and those in the workplace. The product separates a partition wall from the main structure, allowing enough movement to absorb forces from an earthquake or strong winds without compromising the overall integrity of the building. It is very cost effective, and a portion of the sales of Vertibrace are donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Highly Commended: Sarah Hewlett Diprose, Warren & Mahoney, Auckland

Barbra Van Zyl, Jasmax, Auckland

Rising Star – Office (2x): Lisa Mace, Beca, Christchurch

Lisa is a senior process engineer with BECA with a passion for ensuring the safety of drinking water, particularly in small towns in New Zealand. She has been leading a confidential study for the Ministry of Health which will help develop a new regulatory framework for drinking water, and has the potential to improve the safety of drinking water throughout the country. Lisa is also doing language studies, ceramics and Toastmasters and is passionate about fostering the next generation. She has been a Future-in-Tech Ambassador and recently completed her first Rocket Challenge project with a classroom of children in years 5 and 6. She finds it particularly rewarding when young girls start to think of a career they may have previously thought of as inaccessible.

Neha Sharma, Jacobs Ltd, Wellington

Neha is a transport engineer at Jacobs, where she has developed a ground breaking transportation modelling system initially with application in NZ and Australia. Neha works with school children as a Project Wonder Ambassador, to teach them about rockets and engineering, and is also involved in the Innovative Young Minds residential programme, where she promotes careers in engineering and construction. She has also touched on subjects such as unconscious bias that one may face in the field of engineering and construction, and how this might be tackled. While Neha is a strong academic and talented engineer, she has stopped to rethink her life and has now taken up meditation and martial arts to centre herself.

Highly Commended: Gaya Paranisamy, Beca, Wellington

Rising Star - Site: Morgan Raby, HEB Structures, Auckland

Currently a project engineer on the bridges team for the Northern Corridor Improvement Project that connects SH 1 with SH 18 in Auckland, Morgan’s passion is to make a positive difference within her community. So far she’s worked on the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery, the Kaikoura Rebuild Alliance, reconstructing a SH1 bridge south of Seddon. She says that moving mountains to rebuild and reconnect communities cemented her drive to work on important infrastructure projects. In her current project, she holds the budget, programme and procurement responsibilities for two 260m long, 8-span, super-tee viaduct bridges. Mentoring a fourth-year university student as part of Women in Engineering and leading a team researching banana drying technology in Samoa with Engineers Without Borders keeps Morgan busy away from work – coupled with training for a triathlon.

Highly Commended: Sarah Duggan, Beca, Wellington

Professional Woman of the Year (2x): Erin Black, Beca, Christchurch

Erin Black is an Associate Business Development Team Leader for the southern region at BECA, and holds several other governance positions. One of Erin’s referees said her performance around the table is exceptional, and her ideas are compelling. Erin has a lived experience of disability through caring for her late daughter Ayla, who was born with a neuromuscular disorder. She is an advocate for the disability community through her directorship at Brackenridge, and she also volunteers for a Whānau Ora initiative that brings together Māori with disabilities and their whanau, to support and guide each other to gain the confidence and knowledge to be Māori first. Erin also mentors and supports the development of young ambassadors from the Forward Foundation, inspiring the next generation of young female leaders in New Zealand. She is an active supporter of the Chambers’ Next Gen group and is a member of the Chambers’ Women in Leadership Advisory Group.

Kathryn Kitchen, Fisher Aluminium, Gisborne

Kathryn is Fisher Aluminium Gisborne’s manager and director, and the only female life member of Registered Master Builders in New Zealand. She started in the industry in the 1960’s with an after-school job completing drawings for her father’s construction company, then becoming a draughtswoman for the Ministry of Works in Gisborne. She gained a Certificate of Engineering and topped the class ‘despite the culture,’ and soon became an assistant to one of the few women architects at the Ministry. In the 1980’s Kathryn left to have children and started a draughting business she still works in. She joined her father’s company which had evolved into aluminium fabrication, kitchen and timber joinery and a garage door business, where she is now manager. Her father had been a Master Builders’ Local and National president and Kathryn followed in his footsteps, first as a secretary and then organising golf days, House of the Year, and becoming one of the first female presidents of a local branch. One of her major achievements was a community build to raise Master Builders’ profile and give back to the community – the Tui Te Ora facility was born.

Highly Commended: Leonie Metge, Cube Dentro, Takanini Auckland

Victoria Read, Aspect Architecture, Martinborough

Simone Sharp, AECOM New Zealand, Auckland

Exciting evening for all

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 06:40:03 GMT

at the 2019 NAWIC Excellence Awards, in partnership with BCITO

Beautiful views over the Waitemata Harbour to the Auckland Harbour Bridge couldn’t help but make this event even more special for the 232 finalists, friends and whanau who attended the event at the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron in Auckland on Friday night, September 27th.

“The awards programme aims to celebrate and honour the achievements of women working in construction and affiliated industries,” explained National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) President Jenny Parker. “We also recognise those organisations active in redressing the gender imbalance in the industry.”

The attached summary of winners in all categories illustrates just how broad a range of industries, experience and skills are represented across these Awards. As guest speaker Nancy McConnell pointed out people can’t be winners every day, but that doesn’t mean our efforts aren’t always worthy and we’re not resilient, ready to try again next time.

Of the 76 entries received, 42 finalists were selected and 12 winners were honoured at the event, as were 16 “highly commended” or “special merit” women. This represents the second-highest number of entries ever received – a number of construction companies have exited the industry since 84 entries were received in 2017. Judges were pleased to note that there has been a steady increase in entries from apprentices/students, tradeswomen and rising stars.

“[This] is a great chance to encourage women in their careers,” said judges. “We heard their passion and dedication, modesty and humility - most thinking they were just doing their jobs. They don’t realise how extraordinary they are.”

For a full list of winners, see Winners Profiles

Want an apprentice over summer?

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:01:36 GMT

2020 Exchange programme opportunity from our friends at GNZCC

You’ll need some great workers during the construction high season of Summer 2020, including well trained and disciplined, keen young people willing to go the extra mile.

The German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce has German companies allowing their apprentices to come on an amazing experience – a three-month apprenticeship stint in New Zealand. Airfares are covered either by the German employer or the apprentice directly.

But they need to know what options are out there for NZ placement – do you have a project coming up over the summer period which requires additional qualified labour?

To start the ball rolling they need you to go onto their website and complete the Vocational Training - Expression of Interest Form: https://neuseeland.ahk.de/en/careers/exchange-programme-in-the-building-sector/

To do so you will need to use the following login details:

Username: exchangeprogram

Password: vocational

There are no fees for this service, however of course GNZCC members will receive priority.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the GNZCC Chief Executive

Monique Surges

p. +64 9 304 0701 | f. +64 9 309 0209 | m. +64 21 599 502
msurges@germantrade.co.nz

Attending the Excellence Awards?

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 09:51:34 GMT

Are you immune to measles?

To ensure everyone enjoys this event on September 27, we all need to remember Auckland’s current struggles with measles - and we suggest you check your immunisation status in time. The Ministry of Health suggests you do this at least TWO WEEKS before visiting Auckland.

If you’re under 50 years old, with some exceptions your best protection seems to be to get the free MMR vaccinations from your GP. Two doses of the vaccine is reportedly 99% effective in preventing measles.

If you’re over 50, you’re probably safe because you’ll have already been exposed to measles.

We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful event, and hope everyone has a great time.

Finalists announced for Excellence Awards

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:06:08 GMT

The National Association of Women in Construction NZ (NAWIC) were delighted to have received a significant increase in entry numbers for their fifth annual Excellence Awards, this year in partnership with BCITO.

“We are both humbled and inspired by the extremely high quality of entries we received,” says Awards Convenor Stacey Mendonca. “It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate and acknowledge some of our top women working in the New Zealand building and construction industry.”

“We’re so looking forward to celebrating the finalists’ achievements, and sharing their incredible stories with the wider industry,” added President Jenny Parker. “As the list of finalists shows, women are positively impacting all aspects of our industry. The finalists’ own organisations, communities and whanau should be extremely proud.”

Warwick Quinn, BCITO's Chief Executive, says, "The NAWIC Awards are a testament to the strong dedication and work ethic of all women in construction, and a fitting way to celebrate just a few of their achievements. We are proud to partner with NAWIC for this initiative.”

“For everyone at BCITO, sharing the recognition of high achievers makes everything we do so worthwhile. Congratulations to all finalists."

The event confirming this year’s winners will be held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland from 6.30pm on Friday, 27 September. Following drinks and canapes, formalities will commence at 7.30pm. Tickets for the event are available at https://2019-nawic-excellence-awards.lilregie.com/

Finalists in all seven categories are:

Helen Tippett Award – Sonia Barker, Project Director, YMCA, Christchurch; Helen Trappitt, Director, Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers, Christchurch; Colleen Upton, Hutt Gas and Plumbing, Lower Hutt.

Tradeswoman of the Year - Dana Kingsbeer, Cabinetmaker, Vogue Kitchens, Gisborne; Jade Robertson, Director, The Robertsons Ltd, Hamner Springs ; Jodie Wallen, Director, Wallen Concreting, Papakura; Elizsabeth Watson, Roof Cladder, Stone Roofing Ltd, Hamilton

Professional Woman of the Year – Erin Black, Associate Business Development Team Leader, Beca, Christchurch; Eleanor Jackson, Residential Manager, Viridian Glass Ltd Partnership, Auckland; Kathryn Kitchen, Manager/Director, Fisher Aluminium, Gisborne; Rebecca Macdonald, Principal Wastewater Engineer, Jacobs Ltd, Christchurch; Leonie Metge, Manager, Cube Dentro, Pukekohe; Victoria Read, Director, Aspect Architecture, Martinborough; Simone Sharp, Associate Director - Project Management Team Leader, AECOM New Zealand, Auckland.

Rising Star, Site – Tracy Clearwater, Joiner, Nigel Molloy Joinery, Winton; Sarah Duggan, Surveyor, Beca, Wellington; Stephanie Kirk, Environmental Scientist, Beca, Hamilton; Morgan Raby, Project Engineer, HEB Structures, Auckland

Rising Star, Office – Melanie John, Kitchen Designer, Cube Dentro, Takanini; Lisa Mace, Senior Process Engineer, Beca, Christchurch; Gaya Paranisamy, Cost Manager, Beca, Wellington; Neha Sharma, Transport Engineer, Jacobs Ltd, Wellington; Evie Wallace, Process Engineer, Beca, Christchurch

Excellence in Construction Administration – Krissy Danford, Business Administrator/Finance Manager, Johnstone Construction, Auckland; Gillian Darroch, Health and Safety and Training Convenor, MetroPerformance Glass, Mt Maunganui; Jessica Drummond, Corporate Services Manager, Miyamoto International, Christchurch; Alison Glover, Health & Safety and Admin, Lawton Building, Auckland; Tracy Shaw, People and Performance Advisor, Higgins, Hawkes Bay; Kylie Wech, Contract Manager, Downer, Whangarei

Outstanding Achievement in Design – Sarah Hewlett Diprose, Associate Principal, Warren & Mahoney, Auckland; Hedda Oosterhoff, National Architectural Manager, T & R Interior Systems, Wellington; Sally Reid, Director, Nagel Consultants, New Plymouth; Barbara van Zyl, Associate Principal, Jasmax, Auckland; Xinyi Wong, Associate-Buildling Services, Beca, Auckland

Student or Apprentice Excellence Award – Corrina Bohny, Contract Construction, Apprentice Carpenter; Kirsty Currie, Apprentice Carpenter, Beelee Homes Ltd, Dunedin; Georgia Danford, Administration & Accounts Assistant, Johnstone Construction, Auckland; Melanie John, Kitchen Designer, Cube Dentro, Takanini; Divya Kataria, Student, AUT Auckland; Danielle Platt, Quantity Surveyor, Rider Levett Bucknell, Christchurch; Paris Ternent-James, Apprentice Carpenter, MB Brown Ltd, Masterton; Anna Winskill-Moore, Apprentice builder, Osborn Brothers Construction, Dunedin

For further information or interview opportunities, please contact

Corrie Cook

Media & Communications Manager

p. 021 632 906

e. media@nawic.org.nz

Young leaders recognised at Civil Contractors NZ Conference

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 02:14:02 GMT

Among the young leaders who won awards at the recent Civil Contractors NZ Conference was Jemma Dutton of CPB Contractors, who was Highly Commended in the Personal Improvement Award category for her work on environmental management for the Transmission Gully project.

She is the first woman in New Zealand to become qualified as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control, and won NAWIC’s Rising Star Award in 2018.

Four people were shortlisted for the coveted Emerging Leader Award, including Project Manager Elena Hoffman of Higgins Canterbury, Laboratory Manager Victoria Lord from Isaac Construction, Downer Mechanical Engineer Aimee Pene from Auckland, and winner Keith Matheson of Otago’s SouthRoads.

Congratulations to all!

NAWIC Wellington provides inspiration for young girls

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 01:51:01 GMT

On Tuesday, 16th July the kids at Childspace in Wellington were treated to a reading of “Rosie Revere, Engineer” from Architecture Nest’s Director Andrea Tucker.

“It was really well received,” said Andrea. “The kids stayed put and I had to read it a number of times for a group of them – mostly girls!”

The book by Andrea Beaty is the “beloved New York Times bestselling picture book about pursuing one’s passion with persistence, and learning to celebrate each failure on the road to achieving one’s dreams.”

Interested in the future of civil construction in New Zealand?

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 01:42:12 GMT

From 31 July-3 August , our friends and sponsors Civil Contractors NZ are hosting a high-profile conference in conjunction with the NZ Roadmarkers Feeration and the Roadmarking Industry Association of Australia at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua. It’s also CCNZ’s 75th national conference.

Other projects:

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:57:08 GMT

Christchurch and Auckland Chapters are supporting the Girl Guides “Build Her” programmes in July, to encourage interest in construction-related careers and to “change the world as we know it.”

Christchurch ’s half day event is for all girls 9 years and older (not just Guides) on Saturday, July 20, while the Auckland event will be held on July 27 and is for girls between 8 and 13 years old. Both attract a minimal fee and have a limit on numbers attending.

To find out more, go to https://girlguidingnz.org.nz/events/

Is this a special opportunity for you?

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:50:04 GMT

NAWIC is often approached by a number of projects throughout New Zealand seeking our support in a variety of ways. The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust is one of these.

Over the five days of the Dunedin Home Show in late October-early November, the BRCT and Otago Polytechnic will be building a “climate-safe” prefab house to highlight the issues around sea level rise.

It will be assembled by recent women trades’ graduates (with a little help from a hiab!) and supervised by the Polytech’s own Project Manager/s - but they require a suitably-qualified, senior builder/construction manager to be “on the ground” for the build’s rather intense duration. This woman would ideally be sponsored by her employer, who would have naming rights for the project.

“We are interested in not only increasing the profile of the construction industry and demonstrating better builds; we also want to showcase women in construction and promote construction as an industry that is open to all,” says Scott Willis, Project Manager of BRCT.

We’re sure there must be lots of members who’d be keen to be part of this project, so please get in touch with Scott if you think you and/or company can help. He can be contacted on 027 488 8314 or blueskinenergy@gmail.com

Around the Chapters

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:48:03 GMT

Members of the Wellington Chapter went on a great site visit to the Johnsonville Library project on 14th May, courtesy of Southbase Construction.

Jaime Lawrence from Athfield Architects also joined us and shared their vision for the project.

Above: At the Johnsonville Library

On June 12 , Susan Freeman-Greene hosted a lunchtime talk. She’s the CEO of Engineering NZ, and talked about exciting new initiatives as well as their Diversity Agenda – something close to our members’ hearts!

Coming up in Wellington on July 31 is a combined function with the NZIOB, featuring Steph Dyhrberg as guest speaker. She’s an employment law specialist and in December 2018 was appointed Wellingtonian of the Year for her contribution to tackling sexual harassment in the workplace.

Book through Eventbrite now by clicking here ( https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/nawic-nziob-networking-and-speaker-event-steph-dyhrberg-tickets-63926... )

On June 18, our Auckland Chapter visited Waste Management’s Head Office new build, which is aiming for a minimum 4-star Green Star rating and is a pilot project for NZGBC’s ‘As-Built’ rating tool. The site’s design promotes the connection of people across all aspects of the organisation, and proved a most interesting and informative site visit.

At Waste Management

On June 19, our Canterbury Chapter hosted a “Wellness in Construction” seminar that highlighted mental health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace. This showcased a panel discussion featuring Laura Clifford of Hawkins Construction and NAWIC’s 2017 Helen Tippett Award winner – Alexia Hilbertidou, the 20-yeaer –old founder of GirlBoss NZ, and Sarah O’Connell, Executive General manager of TriEx Health Safety & Wellness.

Coming up in Christchurch on July 30 , Simpson Grierson will host NAWIC and share their expertise on NZS3910 - and how to get the best use out of this widely-used construction contract. Join us to find out how to avoid common mistakes and share their best practices for completing Schedule 1 of NZS 3910.

Book through Eventbrite now by clicking here ( https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/tips-for-drafting-nzs3910-based-contracts-tickets-63692586240?ref=eca... )

Our satellite chapter in New Plymouth has been active too, with a site visit to McCurdy Engineering in early June and a shared CCNZ/NAWIC midwinter Christmas function on July 6.

Sponsor Hirepool hosts a ‘Hands On with Hirepool’ event in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch every year. This is always a lot of fun for our members, many of whom don’t get the chance to play with the “toys” on offer and relish the opportunity. Thanks, Hirepool!

Raising NAWIC’s profile

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:39:36 GMT

We’ve been involved with some exciting initiatives this year that reinforce our core values of “include, respect and inspire.” Gen Z’s may be comfortable with the concept of including women in any workplace, but this commitment tends to fade in older generations. To change this mindset, NAWIC is supporting initiatives across the country where we can.

Lobbying for women

Already this year, NAWIC NZ President Jenny Parker has given two lectures at Massey University on the benefit of women in industry, and thoughts are to launch a student-led NAWIC chapter within the campus in future.

She was also interviewed on live television earlier this year in response to a survey advising that women are paid on average 20 percent less than their male counterparts in the trades.

Pip Buunk and Jenny attended an information session with Mates in Construction (suicide prevention) in March. This programme is to be adapted to suit NZ culture and circumstances, and NAWIC has a strong interest in this. We know how important mental health awareness is especially for women in a male-dominated field, how bullying and harassment can affect us, and what measures can be put in place to protect and support our vulnerable people.

Jenny was invited to share NAWIC’s vision and challenges within the industry regarding Kiwibuild and affordable housing throughout NZ, with key stakeholders.

This meant she spoke at Auckland Build at BuildNZ in late June. She was part of a seminar on 23rd June on gender balance (“less talk, more action”), and participated in the panel discussion on Monday 24th about Kiwibuild.

Sunday 23rd June seminar:

https://www.buildnz.com/visitor-information/seminars-2019/less-talk-more-action-getting-the-gender-balance-right-in-the-workplace/

Monday 24th Kiwibuild seminar:

https://www.buildnz.com/summit/speakers/

NAWIC Excellence Awards now partnered with BCITO

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:33:03 GMT

Our fifth annual NAWIC Excellence Awards have a new partner in BCITO. NAWIC President Jenny Parker said, “We have formed an excellent relationship with them already, and look forward to working even more with this organisation in the future.”

Entries are still open, although they close on July 12 and there’s no possibility of deadline extensions.

It’s easy to enter, and winners will be announced at a gala function in Auckland on Friday, September 27.

Have you entered our Awards?

The Awards aim to honour and encourage women already in the construction industry as well as recognising organisations working to redress the gender imbalance in the sector.

2019 Award categories are:

· The Helen Tippett Award , the supreme award which celebrates an organisation’s or individual’s achievement in advancing the interests of women in the construction industry

· Tradeswoman of the Year , celebrating the contribution tradeswomen make to the industry

· Professional Woman of the Year , honouring women who have made a significant contribution to our sector

· Rising Star , which celebrates women who demonstrate future leadership skills

· Excellence in Construction Services , which honours the contribution of women in administration, sales/marketing and operational roles

· Outstanding Achievement in Design , which recognises an individual’s contribution to the design aspect of construction projects

· Student/Apprentice Excellence Award , celebrating female students/apprentices who show lots of potential and commitment to the industry.

NAWIC encourages every woman to nominate themselves or others around them for at least one Award. “This is YOUR time to shine – go for it!” says Jenny. “Let’s make these the best awards ever, and get your entry in as soon as you can!”

Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.nawic.org.nz where you’ll also find a list of FAQs. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact us though!

“Whirlwind” of activity this year

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 04:29:03 GMT

From the President

It’s been quite a whirlwind of activity in the first half of this year!

I am pleased to report that we have several new sponsors on board, with more companies expressing an interest in being involved with our values, mission and activities in the wider marketplace.

We are looking at opening satellite chapters in the Bay of Plenty and Hamilton, however this will only take shape in the new year. NAWIC Qatar is also taking shape, and Billie Teshich has kept me updated on developments in the Middle East. They have to go through a rigorous application process to establish the association there. We are in full support of this venture as a global movement.

New representative for the Construction Industry Council Ruth Williams has taken over the role from Donna and is doing some very good work on our behalf.

Our website was rolled out and launched in April in time for International Women’s Day, which was very well received by the public, our members and followers! Re-branding was well overdue and I am so proud and pleased with this new, fresh look. Have you had a look yet? www.nawic.org.nz

Wishing everyone a very warm and dry winter – let’s not stop looking after all the amazing women in construction, and pat ourselves on the back for the effort and time it takes to do what we do.

Jenny Parker, National President

Attending our Board meeting in Wellington on June 8, 2019 were L-R: Ellen Sharland, Social Media; Stacey Mendonca, President Elect; Agustina Esmerado, Treasurer; Rebecca Hodges, Canterbury Chair; Alison Thirkettle-Tawharu, Wellington Chair; Lenie Buis, standing in for Rula Alatia, Auckland Chair; Judith Billington, Membership Secretary; Corrie Cook, Marketing & Communications; Lisa James, Secretary; Jenny Parker, President.

Jenny Parker speaking at Massey University (Albany) to first year Bach. Construction degree students in February 2019

Help our friends at EBANZ

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 03:20:04 GMT

The Earth Building Association of New Zealand (EBANZ) needs your help to raise $60,000 to complete work on the updated Earth Building Standards.

Thanks to EBANZ, New Zealand is a pioneer in Earth Building Standards.

EBANZ originally researched and developed the NZ Earth Building Standards released in 1998, enabling safe and compliant earth houses and in the process becoming a pioneer in Earth Building Standards.

The suite of three Standards are highly regarded internationally and have provided Building Consent Authorities, architects, engineers, builders and home owners a clear pathway toward building and consenting robust natural buildings. They are internationally cited and have been used by a number of international agencies for post-earthquake rebuilding projects, most recently in Haiti and Nepal.

“The New Zealand Earth Building Standards are an essential mechanism for making the continuation of this low carbon, affordable building method possible and it is imperative that the review process be completed,” said natural architect Graeme North, founder and former chair of EBANZ and current chair of the Standards Revision Committee.

“The Standards proved their worth during the massive Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes with no reported failure of compliant buildings. However, much has been learnt since the Standards were released 20 years ago and it’s vital they are updated,” Chair of EBANZ Pat Mawson added.

EBANZ is now working in partnership with Standards NZ to update them.

95 percent of this work has been completed but the association now has to industry-fund the final costs to shepherd the draft Standards through public consultation and publication. This cost is estimated to be at least $60,000.

Tax deductible donations

EBANZ has teamed up with YIMFY (Yes! In My Front Yard); a charity promoting and developing ways of building that foster the health and well-being of both the people who occupy them and the global ecosystems of which they are part. A tax credit can be claimed for donations to the earth building standards through YIMFY. Please email yimfynz@gmail.com if you would like a donation receipt.

More details are on the EBANZ fundraising page here and their facebook page here .

Formed in the 1980s to promote the art and science of earth and natural building, EBANZ members include architects, engineers, builders and self-builders who support each other using natural building methods such as adobe, cob, rammed earth, poured earth, pressed earth and straw bale construction.

Premier award named for famous architect

Thu, 30 May 2019 05:01:51 GMT

NAWIC has held their Excellence Awards for five years, and this year is delighted to partner with BCITO. The premier award is named for famous architect and Professor Helen Tippett, who blazed a very bright trail for women in the construction sector.

Emeritus Professor of Victoria University Helen Tippett (1933-2004) also championed inter-disciplinary work – something still not always considered fully. She was widely regarded as the grandmother of the industry and it was at her behest the National Association of Women in Construction NZ (NAWIC) was established in New Zealand.

Her career included many firsts for Australasia and architecture, and she is an ideal person for women across all the construction industries to look up to, NAWIC believes.

Mrs Tippett trained as an architect in Melbourne in the 1950s and had a lifelong commitment to design that worked for its end users, not just on paper. She had wide experience across the architecture industry, from working in architectural practices to running her own (including designing solar houses in the 1960s), and in academia.

She had a “hugely influential” role in introducing the second-ever, performance based Building Act in the world to New Zealand. This simplified four building control sub-systems, 19 responsible government departments, 67 Acts and 64 sets of regulations into one document.

Throughout, she strove to integrate all aspects of construction and building management and railed against mediocrity.

At an exhibition in Wellington in 1993 to celebrate Centennial Suffrage Year, she described herself as “a professor of architecture and chartered builder for constructive agenda [including] women in architecture.” Her research projects and publications examined everything from building control systems, building access, building quality assessment and building education, to affordable housing and urban development.

She was a foundation member of the New Zealand Institute of Building and the first woman President of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. For 20 years she was a Professor of Architecture at Victoria University – the first woman to achieve this and which became a source of pride for the School. In 1994 she was awarded an OBE for her services to architecture.

It’s no surprise therefore that NAWIC’s premier award is named in her honour.

The Helen Tippett Award is open to any organisation, company, partnership, firm or individual operating in New Zealand, although you are encouraged to become a NAWIC member or sponsor.

Entries for all categories opened in May and will close on 12th July, and NAWIC encourages women from all disciplines to enter themselves, or nominate another. For entry /nomination forms, go to https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/09688161/files/uploaded/NAWIC_Nomination_form_2019Final.pdf

NAWIC President to speak at Kiwbuild Summit

Thu, 09 May 2019 00:37:25 GMT

Billed as “this year's must attend event for the build, construction and architecture industries,” NAWIC is delighted to support BuildNZ’s latest Kiwibuild Summit, part of the BuildNZ expo in Auckland in late June.

At the Summit on Monday, June 24 NAWIC President Jenny Parker will be part of the afternoon panel discussing industry skills shortages, especially in light of proposed changes to the vocational training framework. Other panellists will include David Kelly (CEO, RMBA), Warwick Quinn (CEO, BCITO), Daniel Williams (MD, Woods) and hopefully Hon. Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education.

Speakers at other panel discussions during the day include cabinet ministers and leaders across the wider construction sector.

For the full agenda, see https://www.buildnz.com/summit/agenda?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=KiwiBuild+Launch+2&utm_c...

New logo announced for NAWIC

Wed, 08 May 2019 23:54:38 GMT

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) NZ has revealed its new logo and colour, effective immediately.

The NAWIC logo now utilises a strong typeface, with a little flick on the top of “N” and “W” which designers Attraction Studios says brings a “slightly feminine, definitely more fun aspect” to it.

“Concentrating on a word mark as opposed to an icon-style logo creates a [more] formal feel, while the levitated dot [offers] a lightened and uplifting impression.” The dot is used to symbolise inspiration, as well as the upward progression our members experience through participation in our organisation.

The new orange follows the current logo colour but shows a more modern and strong shade than previously.

“One of the things that was challenging about the last logo was the huge amount of text in it,” said NAWIC executive board member and Canterbury Chapter Chair Rebecca Hodges, who has overseen the rebranding. “It made it very difficult to use in a wide range of applications.”

Look for the new logo on our website and on collateral for the 2019 NAWIC Excellence Awards (in partnership with BCITO), entries for which are now open.

Marae bans women from construction site

Wed, 08 May 2019 23:54:13 GMT

A Stuff report in early April has raised the ire of many in the wider construction industry.

Mokau Marae in Northland has banned women from the construction site while their marae buildings are being rebuilt following a 2012 fire. This action is a traditional risk management strategy based on protecting women as the bearers of future generations, but is seen as potentially detering young women from working in construction at all according to Samuelu Sefuiva, the project manager of Auckland-based Māori & Pasifika Trades Training.

"We acknowledge and respect [the] integrity of customary practice and norms. However, that needs to work alongside the contemporary need for getting more of our people – women or men – into trades," he said.

NAWIC Chair Jenny Parker agrees. “It’s very interesting and dismaying to see this happening once again,” she said. Current work being carried out is Stage Two of a two-stage project, due for completion in 2020. “While being respectful to all, I believe we need to support women who want to be part of an inclusive and gender-equal building industry.”

Women are playing a bigger role in New Zealand than ever before. Our Minister for Building and Construction is Jenny Salesa, and Dame Patsy Reddy is our Governor General. Jacinda Ardern our Prime Minister has gained international recognition for her inclusive and compassionate leadership.

There are increasing numbers of Maori and Pasifika women working in construction and infrastructure, and NAWIC would like to see more. We believe women have an equal status on any building site and should be able to carry out their role without gender being an issue.

What do you think? We welcome all respectful comments.

For the Stuff report, see https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111991454/northland-marae-bans-women-from-site-during-building-phase

Christchurch shootings

Wed, 08 May 2019 23:53:49 GMT

The National Association of Women in Construction NZ embraces our Muslim members and supporters with all the warmth and compassion our Association represents.

As we crawl past the religious and racial divides that are finally being acknowledged in our country, we hope everyone is finding the warmth and support New Zealand is better known for.

As with the Japanese custom of kintsugi, we hope to be eventually able to repair what has been broken with something precious. When everything has been put back together again, may the repairs help make our country even more beautiful, never forgetting such a harsh lesson.

What happened in Christchurch last week is something we hope never to see on our shores again.

We will continue to INCLUDE, RESPECT and INSPIRE. Always.

Excellence Awards, Call for Entries

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 05:55:20 GMT

Partnering with BCITO

On Friday, 27 September 2019 we will celebrate the 2019 National Association of Women in Construction Excellence Awards, partnered with BCITO.

The awards programme aims to annually celebrate and honour the achievements of women working in construction and affiliated industries, as well as recognising those organisations active in redressing the gender imbalance in the industry.

Awards categories in 2019 are:

• Helen Tippett Award

• Tradeswoman of the Year

• Professional Woman of the Year

• Rising Star

• Excellence in Construction Administration

• Outstanding Achievement in Design

• Student or Apprentice Excellence Award

Each award category information page has a checklist to ensure entries include the necessary documents. We encourage entrants to include any other criteria they consider relevant in their submission (within the page limit) which highlights their abilities relevant to a particular award category.

ENTRY CLOSING DATE: Friday, 12 July 2019 at 9:00pm

Entries to: awards@nawic.org.nz

If you have any questions, please contact us at awards@nawic.org.nz

Important Dates

12 July Entry closing

7 August Judging Day, by phone contact

18 & 19 August Notification of Finalists

27 September Awards Presentation Event held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, 181 Westhaven Drive,Westhaven Marina, Auckland 1011

Download your nomination form here

Celebrating inspiring women in construction

Sat, 18 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Winners of the fourth annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards have been celebrated as “stellar achievers who are adding their unique voices to New Zealand’s construction industry” during last night’s ceremony at the Auckland Town Hall.

The awards honour the inspirational achievements women are making across New Zealand’s construction industry. With 50 000 more construction workers required within the next five years, it makes sense to encourage more women to work in construction and to highlight career paths available in this dynamic and fast-growing sector.

An aspiration to be the best in her field combined with a passion for empowering her staff saw Heidi Johnston of Windowmakers win the Professional Woman of the Year Award.

Heidi’s commitment to sharing her knowledge with the industry, while encouraging her employees to upskill by establishing a culture of learning within her two aluminium joinery businesses impressed the judges.

Pip Buunk from Fulton Hogan took out Tradeswoman of the Year for her groundbreaking role as New Zealand’s only registered female driller. Growing up with piling rigs in the backyard, Pip knew from an early age that she wanted to be a driller just like her dad.

Pip’s dedication to her work, along with her can-do attitude and thirst for progress stood out to the judges. One of her life goals is to lead an all-female drilling crew.

Stephanie Thompson of Stantec won the Outstanding Achievement in Design Award.

Steph, the Civil Water Team Lead in Stantec’s Christchurch office, is noted for her delivery of several technically complex 3-Waters projects.

In her role as project technical lead, Steph ensures that clear communication occurs between all disciplines so that no gaps arise in delivery. She is described as determined, driven and a future business leader.

Described as “an empowering leader who is taking action to inspire women in construction”, Gabrielle Bush of CPB Contractors won the Helen Tippett Award for actively promoting the participation of women in construction.

Gabby is a project engineer on the Transmission Gully project north of Wellington. She chairs the Transmission Gully Network of Women which is designed to promote the performance of women working on the project, whilst providing networking and support.

She has been involved with the NAWIC Board in Australia and is currently the treasurer of the National Council of Women Hutt Valley Branch.

Elisapeta Heta of Jasmax won the Rising Star Award (office-based category) for her outstanding work in engaging with mana whenua and growing the cultural capacity of the organisation.

An NZIA board member, Elisapeta co-wrote Te Kawenata o Rata; a convenant between Ngā Aho and the NZIA. She has co-chaired Architecture and Women since 2016 and is a founding member of Waka Māia at Jasmax.

Driven by a desire to break through barriers for Māori and Pacifica, Elisapeta impressed the judges with her courageous attitude and her willingness to teach and engage with a wide range of people.

Amelia Gilbert-Milne of Brian Perry Civil and Jemma Dutton of CPB Contractors were joint winners of the Rising Star Award (site-based category).

Amelia provides geotechnical support for projects across New Zealand in her role. She is described as “future-focused with an inclusive leadership style”.

Committed to her role as an empowering leader, Amelia has just published her first paper and is mentoring new graduates. Her authentic attitude and positive nature make her a natural role model for young women entering the construction industry.

Jemma is an environmental professional working within the civil construction and natural gas industry. She has developed a training programme for young graduates to bring them up to speed with New Zealand’s regulatory requirements.

Judges noted her proactive approach to motivating teams. She is quick to think on her feet and makes efficient and accurate decisions within a fast-paced industry.

The Excellence in Construction Administration Award went to Emlyn Moore of Fletcher Construction.

Emlyn joined the New Zealand Convention Centre team to drive an improved safety culture, particularly within the subcontracted workforce.

She has played an instrumental role in the dramatic improvement in the team’s attitude towards health and safety. Emlyn also had an 18-month stint with Fletchers in Papua New Guinea as the very first expatriate woman in the branch and led the drive for health and safety improvements.

Jessica Curtis, an apprentice electrician with Integrated Systems Design, won the Apprentice and Student Award for her commitment to problem solving and working through issues to a successful conclusion in a technically challenging role.

The judges commented on Jessica’s commitment to giving back to the industry by attending careers events to share her experiences, while encouraging young women to consider a trade apprenticeship.

Highly commended awards and special merit awards were awarded to the following finalists:

Cherie Leckner (Fulton Hogan) – highly commended – Professional Woman of the Year
Hannah Fletcher (Fletcher Construction) – special merit – Professional Woman of the Year
Michelle Hoffmann (E.N Ramsbottom Ltd) – special merit – Professional Woman of the Year
Olivia Ward (Fred Lilley Builders) – highly commended – Tradeswoman of the Year
Sarah Murray (Buildtech) – highly commended – Tradeswoman of the Year
Kate Macdonald (GHD) – highly commended - Outstanding Achievement in Design
Joanne Kelly (Pynenburg & Collins Architects Ltd) - highly commended – Helen Tippett Award
Frances Vessey (WSP Opus NZ Ltd) – highly commended – Rising Star Award (office-based category)
Priyani Madan (Arup) – highly commended – Rising Star Award (office-based category)
Hannah Woods (Brian Perry Civil) – highly commended – Rising Star Award (site-based category)
Papua Taumate (CPB Contractors) – highly commended – Rising Star Award (site-based category)
Karen Yaxley (Nationwide Fire Protection) – highly commended – Excellence in Construction Administration Award
Dorota Samorow (European Stone Masons Ltd) - highly commended - Apprentice and Student Award
Tamsyn Settle (Leighs Construction) - highly commended - Apprentice and Student Award

For further information on the 2018 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:

NAWIC president – Jenny Parker - NAWIC President – Jenny Parker – email: president@nawic.org.nz phone 021 241 0412
NAWIC communications manager – Gina McKenzie -email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz phone 022 355 7601

Finalists transforming New Zealand's construction industry

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Women are making their mark on New Zealand’s construction sector with 39 finalists in the fourth annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards reflecting the outstanding contribution being made by women across the industry.

The awards, which will be held at the Auckland Town Hall on Friday 17th August, celebrate the achievements of women in construction along with honouring organisations which are actively working to redress the industry’s gender imbalance.

NAWIC president Jenny Parker describes the finalists as exceptionally talented role models who are showcasing the huge range of career opportunities for women in construction.

“With 60 entries this year it was very difficult to select the finalists from among so many exceptional women. I am delighted and encouraged to see the growing impact women are having on New Zealand’s construction industry.

“The finalists are committed to excellence while giving back to society. We're thrilled to celebrate their success at our awards ceremony next month.”

The awards have six categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry. The finalists in each category are:

The Helen Tippett Award – Gabrielle Bush (CPB Contractors Pty Ltd), Joanne Kelly (Pynenburg & Collins Architects Ltd), and Melanie McIver (Brick and Blocklayers Federation)
Tradeswoman of the Year – Alice Petuha (Richard Hull Builders Ltd), Jaleesa Julian (HG Leach Contractors), Olivia Ward (N. Hunt Construction) , Pip Buunk (Fulton Hogan Ltd), and Sarah Murray (Buildtech)

Professional Woman of the Year – Alison Cadman (Dwell Housing Trust), Cherie Leckner (Fulton Hogan Ltd), Hannah Fletcher (Fletcher Construction), Heidi Johnston (Windowmakers), Kate Loveridge (Fletcher Construction), Michelle Hoffmann (E.N Ramsbottom Ltd), Michelle Qu (Fletcher Construction), and Rosemary Killip (Building Networks NZ Ltd)

Outstanding Achievement in Design – Kate Macdonald (GHD), and Stephanie Thompson (Stantec)
Excellence in Construction Administration – Aleisha Walker (Forman Commercial Interiors), Emlyn Moore (Fletcher Construction), Fiona Woodcock (Brian Perry Civil), and Karen Yaxley (Nationwide Fire Protection)

Rising Star Award (office-based) -Dipal Raniga (AR & Associates Ltd), Elisapeta Heta (Jasmax), Frances Vessey (WSP Opus), Jaimie Whitehead (Dunning Thornton Consultants Ltd), and Priyani Madan (Arup)

Rising Star Award (site-based) -Amelia Gilbert-Milne (Brian Perry Civil), Cresilda Cross (Fletcher Construction), Elmira Direkz (Direkz Contractors Ltd), Hannah Woods (Brian Perry Civil), Papua Taumate (CPB Contractors), Aidan Bryers (Fletcher Construction), and Jemma Dutton (CPB Contractors).

Student/Apprentice Excellence Award – Dorota Samorow (European Stone Masons Ltd), Emma McIntyre (Elite Window Solutions), Jessica Curtis (Integrated Systems Design), Rachel Corbett (Martin Goulden Builders), and Tamsyn Settle (Leighs Construction)

Tickets for the 2018 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards are available from Eventfinder - https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/2018-hays-nawic-excellence-awards/auckland

ENDS
For further information on the 2018 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:

NAWIC Communications Manager – Gina McKenzie – email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz

Last chance to enter Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Encourage women making a difference in construction to enter the 2018 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards before entries and nominations close on Monday 28th May. Submit your entry or nomination by 9pm on Monday 28th May to be in with a chance of winning an award.

The awards celebrate the achievements of women in construction as well as honouring those organisations which are redressing the industry’s gender imbalance. The fourth annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards will be held on Friday 17th August at the Auckland Town Hall.

Employers and managers are encouraged to submit nominations on behalf of their staff. The awards have six categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry. The categories are:

The Helen Tippett Award which celebrates achievement in advancing the interests of women in the construction industry.
Tradeswoman of the Year which celebrates the contribution tradeswomen are making to the industry.

Professional Woman of the Year which focuses on women who have managed a construction project or those who operate their own business in the industry.

Rising Star which celebrates women who demonstrate future leadership potential within the industry. This category is open to women who have worked in the construction industry for less than seven years.

Outstanding Achievement in Design which celebrates the design aspect of a construction project in engineering, architecture or urban/landscape design.

Excellence in Construction Services which honours the contribution of women in administration, sales/marketing or operational roles within the industry.

Student/Apprentice Excellence Award which is open to all women engaged in construction-related study or apprenticeships.

Visit the NAWIC website for nomination/entry forms and further information – www.nawic.org.nz

For further information on the 2018 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:

NAWIC Communications Manager – Gina McKenzie – email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz

NAWIC President – Jenny Parker – email: president@nawic.org.nz

Award recognises importance of supporting women in construction

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The valuable role played by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in supporting women in construction for the past 20 years has been recognised with a President’s Award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects at their recent awards.

NAWIC’s immediate past president, Donna Howell, who accepted this award on behalf of the organisation, says the award is a testament to the increased profile of women in construction resulting from decades of hard work by a dedicated team of volunteers and supporters.

“It is such an honour to receive recognition from the NZIA, as NAWIC is run by a team of volunteers with everyone from committee members right through to the board donating their time for this important cause.

“We run businesses, hold down demanding jobs and strive for a work-life balance but still find the energy and passion to honour our strong commitment to improving the construction industry, not just for women, but for everyone. Our focus on diversity will continue to drive improvements which will benefit everyone involved in construction.”

NAWIC has over 600 members throughout New Zealand. It has chapters in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, along with a satellite group in Taranaki which was formed last year following requests from women working in the local construction sector.

Donna says that further satellite groups are likely to be established during the coming year in response to demand from the regions. She encourages women and men in all sectors of the construction industry from students and apprentices through to trades people and business owners to connect with NAWIC.

“We are keen to continue our fast pace of expansion. A number of men have approached our organisation following our recent successful women in construction panel event at Auckland Build, and are keen to get involved. We already have a number of male members and are keen for more to get on board as the only way we can achieve real progress in New Zealand’s construction industry is through everyone working together to build a better future.”

For further information on NAWIC and for interview opportunities please contact:
NAWIC immediate past president – Donna Howell - email: president@nawic.org.nz phone 029 772 5382
NAWIC communications manager – Gina McKenzie -email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz phone 022 355 7601

Inspirational ideas shared at women in construction panel event

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

NAWIC took part in the women in construction panel event which was held during the Auckland Build Expo on 2nd November at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland.

Issues such as the challenges women are facing and how these can be overcome along with how to get more women into senior roles within the construction sector were discussed. Audience members posed a range of questions for the panellists which focused on issues such as: discrimination in the work place, pay equity, being heard during meetings, facilities on-site, and appropriate jobs for newly graduated apprentices.

Over 175 people attended the panel discussion event, with Expo organisers describing it as, “the highlight of the day”.

The NAWIC stand at the Expo proved popular with over 400 people, including students, apprentices, women in construction, media and business owners visiting to learn more about what NAWIC does, how to join and also how to support women in the construction sector.

NAWIC hopes that the women in construction panel event will become an annual fixture at the Auckland Build Expo.

Celebrating success of women in construction

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Winners of the third annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards have been celebrated as “trail-blazing role models for women in construction” during last night’s ceremony at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.

The awards honour the outstanding achievements women are making in New Zealand’s construction industry. With 10 percent yearly growth rates predicted through to 2019 and 50,000 more construction workers required within the next five years, it makes sense to encourage more women to work in construction and to highlight career paths available in this exciting sector.

A commitment to outstanding health care design combined with excellent leadership skills saw Rachael Rush of Klein win the Professional Woman of the Year Award.

Rachael’s ability to understand the complex nature of New Zealand healthcare and her desire to constantly add value to each project makes her a fantastic role model for women in construction. The judges were impressed with the specialist skills Rachael has developed while finding her niche in architecture.

Verena Maeder from Solid Earth Ltd took out Tradeswoman of the Year for her cutting-edge approach to leading the only commercial earth building yard in New Zealand.

As a 16-year-old exchange student, Swiss-born Verena visited a mud brick home in Nelson and it was “love at first sight” when she entered the house. After returning to Switzerland Verena studied architecture and building ecology before returning to New Zealand in 2002 to purchase a mud brick operation.

Verena has worked with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to develop earth building standards, along with contributing to the development of an improved energy efficient load bearing mud brick.

Sian France of Beca won the Outstanding Achievement in Design Award.

Sian, a technical director specializing in hydro-geology, is noted for her work on the Waterview Connection project. She was involved in implementing a major design change that achieved a positive environmental outcome and significant cost savings for the project.

The judges were impressed by her strong leadership skills coupled with well-researched decisions which deliver excellent results.

Described as “a quiet, yet powerful contributor and a strong advocate for women in construction”, Laura Clifford of Hawkins Construction won the Helen Tippett Award for actively promoting the participation of women in construction.

Laura acts as a mentor to young women entering the industry through her enthusiastic contribution to He Toki ki te Rika, a Maori trade training scheme re-established after the earthquakes to ensure that Maori could play an active role in the Canterbury rebuild.

Steph McLeod of Stantec NZ Ltd and Vikki Stephens of Beca were joint winners of the new Rising Star Award which celebrates future leaders in construction.

After starting out as a project manager, Steph was promoted to commercial leader for water throughout New Zealand. Her outstanding business acumen and enthusiasm for construction give Steph the edge to succeed in her role.

The judges were impressed by Steph’s focus on effective communication as a key driver to delivering projects on time, while leading teams by example. Her desire to foster collaborative solutions to construction issues also made her stand out as a rising star.

A knowledgeable leader in the field of mechanical engineering, Vikki has made her mark while working on complex projects such as Wellington Airport’s Control Tower.

Vikki is passionate about working with others to improve the built environment and her cooperative approach combined with excellent decision-making skills have made her a popular team leader.

The Excellence in Construction Services Award went to Sophie Lackey of Leighs Construction. Sophie has been instrumental in setting up effective policies and procedures as the company grew from 50 to 280 people. She aspires to be on the board of directors in the future and absolutely loves working in the construction industry.

Gillian Linton of Arvida won the Apprentice and Student Award (professional category) for her exceptional commitment to her role as an assistant construction project manager while studying towards a Bachelor of Construction at Massey University.

Judges commented on her excellent organisation skills and methodical approach to problem solving, along with her generosity in sharing knowledge with fellow students.

Emily Sutton of City Care won the Apprentice and Student Award (trades category) for her outstanding work as an apprentice digger operator.

When Emily joined City Care as a pre-apprentice she watched digger operators onsite and thought, “I want to do that”. She now operates diggers all over Christchurch and has achieved her dream. She is studying towards a Certificate in Civil Infrastructure Trades while volunteering as a firefighter in her free time.

Highly commended awards and special merit awards were awarded to the following finalists:

Hayley Tribble (Tripro Ltd) – highly commended – Professional Woman of the Year (professional category)

Andrea Williamson (Fletcher Construction) – highly commended – Professional Woman of the Year (construction category)

Melvina Browne Uriarau (LiveWire Electrical) – highly commended – Tradeswoman of the Year

Laisa Pickering (Electrix Ltd) – highly commended – Tradeswoman of the Year

Esther Loh (Beca) – highly commended – Outstanding Achievement in Design

Pam Bell (Prefab NZ) – highly commended – Helen Tippett Award

Robyn Phipps (Massey University) – highly commended – Helen Tippett Award

Jordan Kirk (Fulton Hogan Ltd) – highly commended – Rising Star Award

Stephanie Cerpa (Contract Construction) – highly commended – Rising Star Award

Emma Cushnie (Fulton Hogan Ltd) – highly commended – Excellence in Construction Services

Bev McKay (Registered Master Builders Association) –special award– Excellence in Construction Services

Sally Davis (BCITO) – special award – Excellence in Construction Services

Megan Burfoot (AUT) –highly commended - Apprentice and Student Award (professional)

Amritpal Kaur (AUT) – highly commended – Apprentice and Student Award (professional)

Nikita Ward (Hutt Gas and Plumbing) – highly commended – Apprentice and Student Award (trades)

Fahimeh Zaeri (AUT) – special merit – Apprentice and Student Award

For further information on the 2017 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:
NAWIC president – Donna Howell - NAWIC President – Donna Howell – email: president@nawic.org.nz phone 029 772 5382
NAWIC communications manager – Gina McKenzie -email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz phone 022 355 7601

Finalists reflect changing face of construction industry

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Women are flourishing throughout New Zealand’s construction sector with 39 finalists in the third annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards reflecting the outstanding contribution being made by women across the industry.

The awards, which will be held at the Aotea Centre in Auckland on Friday 18th August, celebrate the achievements of women in construction along with honouring organisations which are actively working to redress the industry’s gender imbalance.

NAWIC president Donna Howell says the finalists are blazing a trail for others to follow while showcasing the huge variety of career opportunities for women in construction.

“We had over 80 entries this year which made it very difficult to select the finalists from among so many talented women. It’s inspiring to see increasing numbers of women having such a huge impact on New Zealand’s growing construction industry.

“The finalists are a truly outstanding group of women who are committed to excellence while giving back to the wider community. We’re excited to celebrate their success at our awards ceremony in August.”

The awards have six categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry. The finalists in each category are:

The Helen Tippett Award – Becky Macdonald (Beca), Laura Clifford (Hawkins Construction), Pam Bell (Prefab NZ), Robyn Phipps (Massey University), and Sue Bradley (Beca)

Tradeswoman of the Year – Laisa Pickering (Electrix Ltd), Lisa Lawrence (Basically Floors Ltd), Melvina Browne Uriarau (LiveWire Electrical), Tina Mehlhopt (Honeybone Builders), and Verena Maeder (Solid Earth Ltd)

Professional Woman of the Year – Andrea Williamson (Fletcher Construction), Andrea Jarvis (Holmes Consulting Group), Carolynn Marot (CPB Contractors), Donna Bridgman (GHD NZ Ltd), Hayley Tribble (Tripro Ltd), Lana Duboka (AECOM), and Rachael Rush (Klein Ltd)

Outstanding Achievement in Design – Esther Loh (Beca), Sheila Karimi (Beca), and Sian France (Beca)

Excellence in Construction Administration – Bev McKay (Registered Master Builders Association), Carolyn Jane (Signature Residential Ltd), Sophie Lackey (Leighs Construction Ltd), Sally Davis (BCITO), Sarah Greenwood (Respond Architects), and Emma Cushnie (Fulton Hogan)

Rising Star Award – Steph McLeod (Stantec NZ Ltd), Harriet-Rose Follas (Beca), Jordan Kirk (Fulton Hogan Ltd), Stephanie Cerpa (Contract Construction), Vikki Stephens (Beca), and Willien Irvia (Rawlinsons Ltd)

Student/Apprentice Excellence Award – Emily Sutton (City Care Ltd), Nikita Ward (Hutt Gas and Plumbing Systems Ltd), Amritpal Kaur (AUT), Fahimeh Zaeri (AUT), Gillian Linton (Arvinda), Lisa Brook (Signature Homes Ltd) and Megan Burfoot (AUT)

For further information on the 2017 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:

NAWIC Communications Manager – Gina McKenzie – email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz

NAWIC President – Donna Howell – email: president@nawic.org.nz

Posted on Wed, 5 Jul 2017 by Rebecca Hodges

Construction boom sees NAWIC expand to New Plymouth

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

More women than ever are joining New Zealand’s booming construction industry with a 40 per cent increase in National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) members over the past year sparking the launch of the first regional satellite chapter in New Plymouth.

The New Plymouth NAWIC group will operate as a satellite chapter of NAWIC Wellington.
NAWIC president Donna Howell is excited about providing more support to women in construction who live and work in Taranaki.

“Over the last year we’ve had an increasing number of women from outside the main centres requesting support from NAWIC. We’ve decided to start with New Plymouth as our first satellite chapter due to the large number of requests from the Taranaki area.

“It is thrilling to see NAWIC grow from the three existing chapters in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury out into the regional areas. We hope to expand into other regional areas to support women in construction all over New Zealand.

“We’re seeing a huge growth in membership numbers which reflects the overall growth in the numbers of women choosing a career in construction.

“It is particularly exciting to see younger women changing the face of the industry. There has never been a better time to be a woman in construction with plenty of opportunities, such as operating your own business, available to women across the sector.”

Donna hopes that the launch of NAWIC’s regional chapters will also lead to an increase of women in senior positions within the construction industry throughout New Zealand.

“While it is fantastic to see increasing numbers of women choosing a career in construction, this isn’t reflected in the participation of women at a decision-making level and as we expand we hope to see an upswing in the numbers of women holding senior positions.”

NAWIC will launch its New Plymouth satellite chapter on Tuesday 13th June at The Hour Glass from 5:30pm. NAWIC Wellington chapter chair Janine Mitchell will discuss how NAWIC can support women throughout their construction careers. Everyone is welcome to attend the free information event including students and parents.

Put yourself forward for women in construction awards

Tue, 16 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

***EDIT: Awards entries/nominations are now closed - finalists will be announced in early July.***

An amazing rollercoaster ride that has resulted in a promotion is how Natalie Thornton describes her experience of winning last year’s Hays NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) Excellence Award for the student/apprentice category.

Natalie encourages women considering entering this year’s Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards to just “go for it and be proud of your achievements”.

Entries for the 2017 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards are open until June 5th, with the awards being held at the Aotea Centre in Auckland on 18th August.

Since winning the award, Natalie has completed her apprenticeship and is now operations manager and foreman on larger construction sites.

“At times, it still doesn’t feel real. I remember finding out I was off to the awards in Wellington and feeling nerves, panic and excitement all at once.

“After winning the award I was left with an intense feeling of achievement and accomplishment.”

Megan Rule who won last year’s Helen Tippett Award for actively promoting women in construction says entering the awards helps promote diversity while improving the industry as a whole.
“For me the success of this award is about participation and the opportunities to help each other achieve our goals.

“The awards highlight a variety of role models by profiling and recognising otherwise invisible women contributing at all levels which increases the diversity of our industry and ultimately the entire New Zealand economy.”

Lynne Makepeace, joint winner of last year’s Professional Woman of the Year Award, says winning the award increased her confidence and made her realise that she is actually good at her job and well-respected in the industry.

“It reinforced what people had told me in the past but I had never really believed it as I viewed it as “just doing my job”.”
Lynne says the experience of entering the awards provides an opportunity to reflect on career highlights.

“Take the plunge and enter, it is not until you sit down to write your submission that you will realise exactly how much you have achieved in your career and how far you have come.”

The awards have six categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry. The categories are:

The Helen Tippett Award which celebrates achievement in advancing the interests of women in the construction industry.

Tradeswoman of the Year which celebrates the contribution tradeswomen are making to the industry.

Professional Woman of the Year which focuses on women who have managed a construction project or those who operate their own business in the industry.

Outstanding Achievement in Design which celebrates the design aspect of a construction project in engineering, architecture or urban/landscape design.

Excellence in Construction Services which honours the contribution of women in administration, sales/marketing or operational roles within the industry.

Student/Apprentice Excellence Award which is open to all women engaged in construction-related study or apprenticeships.

For further information on the 2017 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:
NAWIC Communications Manager – Gina McKenzie – email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz
NAWIC President – Donna Howell – email: president@nawic.org.nz

In The News

Fri, 12 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Half of school age children have never been given any information on possible jobs in construction by teachers or careers advisers, according to a recent UK study.

Did you get any information on a career in construction when you were at school?

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/03/06/school-children-given-no-info-on-careers-in-construction/

Carla Tonga had every door in the building industry closed on her 20 years ago but that has all changed now.
She loves helping other women to learn more about the industry.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/91511366/Building-training-organisation-pushing-for-thousands-to-return-to-the-trades

“In the beginning, I was always taught that we were supposed to have girl jobs, once this opportunity came, I thought it was the best thing ever that I can get out there and be able to do it on my own and make money and support my family."
https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/education/trades-course-champions-gender-equality-construction

New Zealand women are paid, on average, 13% less than their male counterparts for work of the same value.

What should we do to fix this imbalance?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/89345643/equal-pay-its-about-time

96% of these kids drew a male builder but our very own Carla Tonga showed the kids that it's "really cool to be a female builder".
http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/kiwi-kids-put-gender-test-reveal-oldschool-stereotypes-still-exist-video-6516542

These inspiring women are developers, designers, engineering directors, bio scientists, nuclear scientists, and rocket scientists
https://amp-businessinsider-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.businessinsider.com/most-powerful-female-engineers-of-2017-2017-

logs4jobs - filling the skilled worker shortage

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

PrefabNZ, in collaboration with Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, BCITO and CareersNZ, has produced a video promoting the career options, particularly for women, within timber construction.

Check out the video below.

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own (or paste your own from a different source).
To control the color or size of this text, please change the global colors or text size under the Design section from the left menu of the editor.

Where are the female leaders in New Zealand’s construction industry?

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

More women than ever are joining New Zealand’s booming construction industry with the number of women in construction doubling to 17 per cent over the last 15 years but this increase hasn’t resulted in more women in leadership roles within the industry.

“While it is fantastic to see increasing numbers of women choosing a career in construction, this isn’t reflected in the participation of women at a decision-making level in construction and in fact all industries across New Zealand,” say National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) president Donna Howell.

Only 20.1 per cent of New Zealand women hold senior leadership positions while just 16.8 per cent of listed companies have female directors.

Donna hopes that the third annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards which will be held on 18th August in Auckland will generate plenty of discussion on this topic, while the introduction of a new “rising star” category will provide recognition for future leaders within the construction industry.

“The awards celebrate the achievements of women in construction as well as honouring those organisations which are redressing the industry’s gender imbalance.

“We’re delighted with the growing number of entries we’re receiving each year and are excited to introduce this new category which will celebrate up and coming leaders who will inspire others to seek out leadership roles within the construction industry.”

Hays is sponsoring the Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards for the third year in a row to recognise the significant contributions being made by women in New Zealand's construction industry.

Hays managing director Jason Walker says Hays is delighted to be sponsoring the awards and is looking forward to reviewing more fantastic entries from inspiring women who work in the fast-growing construction industry.

"As a long-time supporter of NAWIC, sponsoring the Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards is a perfect fit for us. We actively encourage and support the rising numbers of women joining New Zealand's trades and construction industries and are keen to keep recruiting as many as possible.

"The construction industry is rapidly changing and women are definitely making their mark. Women choosing a career in building, construction and the trades are seeing that they can progress up the ranks and operate their own businesses while enjoying high wages and excellent growth and training opportunities."

Entries/nominations for the awards are open until June 5th. Employers and managers are encouraged to submit nominations on behalf of their staff. The awards have six categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry. The categories are:

The Helen Tippett Award which celebrates achievement in advancing the interests of women in the construction industry.

Tradeswoman of the Year which celebrates the contribution tradeswomen are making to the industry.

Professional Woman of the Year which focuses on women who have managed a construction project or those who operate their own business in the industry.

Outstanding Achievement in Design which celebrates the design aspect of a construction project in engineering, architecture or urban/landscape design.

Excellence in Construction Services which honours the contribution of women in administration, sales/marketing or operational roles within the industry.

Student/Apprentice Excellence Award which is open to all women engaged in construction-related study or apprenticeships.

For further information on the 2017 Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards and for interview opportunities please contact:

NAWIC Communications Manager – Gina McKenzie – email: gina@realcommunications.co.nz
NAWIC President – Donna Howell – email: president@nawic.org.nz

New NAWIC President Elect

Thu, 22 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

We’re delighted to announce that Auckland Chair Jenny Parker has been appointed unopposed as the NAWIC President Elect with the full support of the current Board. Jenny will support current NAWIC President Donna Howell for one year before taking up the role of NAWIC President in 2018. We're looking forward to ratifying Jenny's appointment at our AGM in January.